Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Moving a User Interface Object Based on an Intensity of a Press Input

ABSTRACT

An electronic device, with a touch-sensitive surface, displays a respective control, which is associated with respective contact intensity criteria, used to determine whether or not a function associated with the respective control will be performed. The device detects a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface, corresponding to an interaction with the respective control. In accordance with a determination that the gesture does not include a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, the device changes the appearance of the respective control to indicate progress toward meeting the respective contact intensity criteria that is used to determine whether or not a function associated with the respective control will be performed. In response to detecting activation of the control, the device performs the function associated with the respective control in accordance with the detected gesture including a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/994,843, filed May 31, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/536,166, filed Nov. 7, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,990,121, which is a continuation of PCT Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2013/040087, filed on May 8, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Moving a User Interface Object Based on an Intensity of a Press Input,” which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,373, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Managing Activation of a Control Based on Contact Intensity;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,367, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Moving a User Interface Object Based on an Intensity of a Press Input;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/747,278, filed Dec. 29, 2012, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Manipulating User Interface Objects with Visual and/or Haptic Feedback;” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/688,227, filed May 9, 2012, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Manipulating User Interface Objects with Visual and/or Haptic Feedback,” which applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

This application is also related to the following: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,092, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Selecting Object within a Group of Objects;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,125, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Navigating User Interface Hierarchies;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,156, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Manipulating Framed Graphical Objects;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,179, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Scrolling Nested Regions;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,171, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Displaying Additional Information in Response to a User Contact;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,191, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Displaying User Interface Objects Corresponding to an Application;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,211, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Facilitating User Interaction with Controls in a User Interface;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,239, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Forgoing Generation of Tactile Output for a Multi-Contact Gesture;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,284, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Providing Tactile Feedback for Operations Performed in a User Interface;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,287, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Providing Feedback for Changing Activation States of a User Interface Object;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,363, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Transitioning between Touch Input to Display Output Relationships;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,265, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Transitioning between Display States in Response to a Gesture;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,412, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Displaying Content Associated with a Corresponding Affordance;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,413, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Selecting User Interface Objects;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,414, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Moving and Dropping a User Interface Object;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,416, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Determining Whether to Scroll or Select Content;” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/778,418, filed on Mar. 13, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Switching between User Interfaces,” which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

This application is also related to the following: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/645,033, filed on May 9, 2012, entitled “Adaptive Haptic Feedback for Electronic Devices;” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/665,603, filed on Jun. 28, 2012, entitled “Adaptive Haptic Feedback for Electronic Devices;” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/681,098, filed on Aug. 8, 2012, entitled “Adaptive Haptic Feedback for Electronic Devices,” which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This relates generally to electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces, including but not limited to electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces that detect inputs for manipulating user interfaces.

BACKGROUND

The use of touch-sensitive surfaces as input devices for computers and other electronic computing devices has increased significantly in recent years. Exemplary touch-sensitive surfaces include touch pads and touch screen displays. Such surfaces are widely used to manipulate user interface objects on a display.

Exemplary manipulations include adjusting the position and/or size of one or more user interface objects or activating buttons or opening files/applications represented by user interface objects, as well as associating metadata with one or more user interface objects or otherwise manipulating user interfaces. Exemplary user interface objects include digital images, video, text, icons, control elements such as buttons and other graphics. A user will, in some circumstances, need to perform such manipulations on user interface objects in a file management program (e.g., Finder from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), an image management application (e.g., Aperture or iPhoto from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a digital content (e.g., videos and music) management application (e.g., iTunes from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a drawing application, a presentation application (e.g., Keynote from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a word processing application (e.g., Pages from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a website creation application (e.g., iWeb from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a disk authoring application (e.g., iDVD from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), or a spreadsheet application (e.g., Numbers from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.).

But existing methods for performing these manipulations are cumbersome and inefficient. In addition, existing methods take longer than necessary, thereby wasting energy. This latter consideration is particularly important in battery-operated devices.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, there is a need for electronic devices with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for manipulating user interfaces. Such methods and interfaces optionally complement or replace conventional methods for manipulating user interfaces. Such methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.

The above deficiencies and other problems associated with user interfaces for electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces are reduced or eliminated by the disclosed devices. In some embodiments, the device is a desktop computer. In some embodiments, the device is portable (e.g., a notebook computer, tablet computer, or handheld device). In some embodiments, the device has a touchpad. In some embodiments, the device has a touch-sensitive display (also known as a “touch screen” or “touch screen display”). In some embodiments, the device has a graphical user interface (GUI), one or more processors, memory and one or more modules, programs or sets of instructions stored in the memory for performing multiple functions. In some embodiments, the user interacts with the GUI primarily through finger contacts and gestures on the touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the functions optionally include image editing, drawing, presenting, word processing, website creating, disk authoring, spreadsheet making, game playing, telephoning, video conferencing, e-mailing, instant messaging, workout support, digital photographing, digital videoing, web browsing, digital music playing, and/or digital video playing. Executable instructions for performing these functions are, optionally, included in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium or other computer program product configured for execution by one or more processors.

There is a need for electronic devices with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for moving user interface objects (such as a handle of a slider control) at varying speeds or through varying displacements using a press input, such that the extent of motion of the user interface object (e.g., speed and/or displacement of the user interface object) varies with or depends on the intensity or pressure of the press input on a track pad or touch screen. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for moving user interface objects. Such methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface. The method includes displaying a user interface object on the display. The method further includes detecting a press input on the touch-sensitive surface while a focus selector is at a first location in a user interface. The method also includes in response to detecting the press input on the touch-sensitive surface: in accordance with a determination that the press input has an intensity above a predefined activation threshold, moving the user interface object directly to the first location in the user interface; and in accordance with a determination that the press input has an intensity below the predefined activation threshold and meets gradual-movement criteria, moving the user interface object toward the first location in the user interface in accordance with the intensity of the press input.

In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display unit configured to display a user interface object, a touch-sensitive surface unit configured to receive a press input on the touch-sensitive surface unit, one or more sensor units configured to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface unit, a processing unit coupled to the display unit, the touch-sensitive surface unit, and the sensor units. The processing unit is configured to: display a user interface object on the display unit; detect a press input on the touch-sensitive surface unit while a focus selector is at a first location in a user interface. In response to detecting the press input on the touch-sensitive surface unit, the processing unit is configured to: in accordance with a determination that the press input has an intensity above a predefined activation threshold, move the user interface object directly to the first location in the user interface; and in accordance with a determination that the press input has an intensity below the predefined activation threshold and meets gradual-movement criteria, move the user interface object toward the first location in the user interface in accordance with the intensity of the press input.

Thus, electronic devices with displays, touch-sensitive surfaces and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface are provided with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for moving user interface objects, such as a handle of a slider control, at varying speeds or through varying displacements based on variable intensities of a press input, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for moving user interface objects on displays.

An electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface detects an input on the touch-sensitive surface while the display is in a low-power mode, where detecting the input includes detecting a contact on the touch-sensitive surface and detecting a change in a characteristic of the contact. In response to detecting the input, in accordance with a determination that the input meets display-activation criteria, the device gradually displays a respective user interface on the display in accordance with the change in the characteristic of the contact, where the respective user interface was not displayed on the display when the display was in the low-power mode.

There is a need for electronic devices with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for providing an indication to a user on how a control responds to inputs. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for providing an indication to a user on how a control responds to inputs. Such methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device with a touch-sensitive surface and a display, where the device includes one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface. The method includes displaying, on the display, a plurality of controls for controlling operations of the device, where the plurality of controls include one or more controls of a first type of control that respond to inputs by incrementally adjusting a corresponding parameter in accordance with intensity of the inputs, and one or more controls of a second type of control that respond to inputs that reach a predefined intensity threshold by performing a corresponding discrete operation. When a focus selector is remote from the plurality of controls, the plurality of controls have a two-dimensional appearance. The method further includes detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of a focus selector over a respective control having a two-dimensional appearance and, in response to detecting the gesture, in accordance with a determination that the respective control is a control of the first type, changing the appearance of the respective control to have a three-dimensional appearance, and in accordance with a determination that the respective control is a control of the second type, maintaining the two-dimensional appearance of the respective control.

In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display unit configured to display a plurality of controls for controlling operations of the device, where the plurality of controls include one or more controls of a first type of control that respond to inputs by incrementally adjusting a corresponding parameter in accordance with intensity of the inputs, and one or more controls of a second type of control that respond to inputs that reach a predefined intensity threshold by performing a corresponding discrete operation, and when a focus selector is remote from the plurality of controls, the plurality of controls have a two-dimensional appearance. The electronic device further includes a touch-sensitive surface unit configured to receive user gestures, one or more sensor units configured to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface unit; and a processing unit coupled to the display unit, the touch-sensitive surface unit, and the one or more sensor units. The processing unit is configured to detect a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface unit that corresponds to movement of a focus selector over a respective control having a two-dimensional appearance and, in response to detecting the gesture, in accordance with a determination that the respective control is a control of the first type, change the appearance of the respective control to have a three-dimensional appearance, and in accordance with a determination that the respective control is a control of the second type, maintain the two-dimensional appearance of the respective control.

Thus, electronic devices with displays, touch-sensitive surfaces and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface are provided with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for providing an indication to a user on how a control responds to inputs, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for providing an indication to a user on how a control responds to inputs.

There is a need for electronic devices with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for adjusting bidirectional user interface elements. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for adjusting bidirectional user interface elements. Such methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device with a touch-sensitive surface and a display, where the device includes one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface. The method includes displaying a bidirectional user interface element on the display, where the bidirectional user interface element is configured to be adjusted in a first direction or a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. The method further includes, while the bidirectional user interface element has focus, detecting a first input on the touch-sensitive surface that includes a first contact and a second contact and determining a difference between an intensity of the first contact and an intensity of the second contact. The method further includes, in response to detecting the first input, in accordance with a determination that the first input meets first adjustment criteria, including that the intensity of the first contact is greater than the intensity of the second contact, adjusting the bidirectional user interface element in the first direction and, in accordance with a determination that the first input meets second adjustment criteria, including that the intensity of the first contact is less than the intensity of the second contact, adjusting the bidirectional user interface element in the second direction.

In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display unit configured to display a bidirectional user interface element, where the bidirectional user interface element is configured to be adjusted in a first direction or a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, a touch-sensitive surface unit configured to receive user inputs, one or more sensor units configured to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface unit; and a processing unit coupled to the display unit, the touch-sensitive surface unit, and the sensor units. The processing unit is configured to, while the bidirectional user interface element has focus, detect a first input on the touch-sensitive surface unit that includes a first contact and a second contact and determine a difference between an intensity of the first contact and an intensity of the second contact. The processing unit is further configured to, in response to detecting the first input, in accordance with a determination that the first input meets first adjustment criteria, including that the intensity of the first contact is greater than the intensity of the second contact, adjust the bidirectional user interface element in the first direction, and in accordance with a determination that the first input meets second adjustment criteria, including that the intensity of the first contact is less than the intensity of the second contact, adjust the bidirectional user interface element in the second direction.

Thus, electronic devices with displays, touch-sensitive surfaces and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface are provided with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for adjusting bidirectional user interface elements, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for adjusting bidirectional user interface elements.

There is a need for electronic devices with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for managing activation of controls that provide users with an indication of progress toward activating a respective control. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for managing activation of controls. Such methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface. The method includes: displaying, on the display, a respective control associated with respective contact intensity criteria. The method further includes while a focus selector is at a location on the display that corresponds to the respective control: detecting a gesture, on the touch-sensitive surface, that corresponds to an interaction with the respective control; and while detecting the gesture, in accordance with a determination that the gesture does not include a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, changing the appearance of the respective control to indicate progress toward meeting the respective contact intensity criteria.

In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display unit configured to display on the display unit, a respective control associated with respective contact intensity criteria; a touch-sensitive surface unit configured to receive a contact on the touch-sensitive surface unit; one or more sensor units configured to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface unit; and a processing unit coupled to the display unit, the sensor units and the touch-sensitive surface unit. The processing unit is configured to: while a focus selector is at a location on the display unit that corresponds to the respective control: detect a gesture, on the touch-sensitive surface unit, that corresponds to an interaction with the respective control; and while detecting the gesture, in accordance with a determination that the gesture does not include a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, change the appearance of the respective control to indicate progress toward meeting the respective contact intensity criteria.

Thus, electronic devices with displays, touch-sensitive surfaces and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface are provided with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for managing activation of controls based on the intensity (e.g., pressure) and/or duration of a contact, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for managing activation of controls.

In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display, a touch-sensitive surface, optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, one or more processors, memory, and one or more programs; the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors and the one or more programs include instructions for performing the operations of any of the methods referred to in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments. In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user interface on an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory includes one or more of the elements displayed in any of the methods referred to in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments, which are updated in response to inputs, as described in any of the methods referred to in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments. In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable storage medium has stored therein instructions which when executed by an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, cause the device to perform the operations of any of the methods referred to in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments. In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes: a display, a touch-sensitive surface, and optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface; and means for performing the operations of any of the methods referred to in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments. In accordance with some embodiments, an information processing apparatus, for use in an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface, optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, includes means for performing the operations of any of the methods referred to in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various described embodiments, reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a portable multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for event handling in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portable multifunction device having a touch screen in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary user interface for a menu of applications on a portable multifunction device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary user interface for a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the display in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 5A-5Y illustrate exemplary user interfaces for moving user interface objects at varying speeds or through varying displacements based on variable intensities of a press input, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 6A-6D are flow diagrams illustrating a method of moving user interface objects at varying speeds or through varying displacements based on variable intensities of a press input, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of an electronic device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 8A-8I illustrate exemplary user interfaces for providing an indication to a user on how a control responds to inputs in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 9A-9E are flow diagrams illustrating a method of providing an indication to a user on how a control responds to inputs in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of an electronic device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 11A-11N illustrate exemplary user interfaces for adjusting bidirectional user interface elements in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 12A-12C are flow diagrams illustrating a method of adjusting bidirectional user interface elements in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of an electronic device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 14A-14M illustrate exemplary user interfaces for managing activation of controls based on the intensity and/or duration of a contact in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 15A-15D are flow diagrams illustrating a method of managing activation of controls based on the intensity and/or duration of a contact in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram of an electronic device in accordance with some embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The methods, devices and GUIs described herein provide visual and/or haptic feedback that makes manipulation of user interface objects more efficient and intuitive for a user. For example, in a system where the clicking action of a trackpad is decoupled from the contact intensity (e.g., contact force, contact pressure, or a substitute therefore) that is needed to reach an activation threshold, the device can generate different tactile outputs (e.g., “different clicks”) for different activation events (e.g., so that clicks that accomplish a particular result are differentiated from clicks that do not produce any result or that accomplish a different result from the particular result). Additionally, tactile outputs can be generated in response to other events that are not related to increasing intensity of a contact, such as generating a tactile output (e.g., a “detent”) when a user interface object is moved to a particular position, boundary or orientation, or when an event occurs at the device.

Additionally, in a system where a trackpad or touch-screen display is sensitive to a range of contact intensity that includes more than one or two specific intensity values (e.g., more than a simple on/off, binary intensity determination), the user interface can provide responses (e.g., visual or tactile cues) that are indicative of the intensity of the contact within the range. In some implementations, a pre-activation-threshold response and/or a post-activation-threshold response to an input are displayed as continuous animations. As one example of such a response, a preview of an operation is displayed in response to detecting an increase in contact intensity that is still below an activation threshold for performing the operation. As another example of such a response, an animation associated with an operation continues even after the activation threshold for the operation has been reached. Both of these examples provide a user with a continuous response to the force or pressure of a user's contact, which provides a user with visual and/or haptic feedback that is richer and more intuitive. More specifically, such continuous force responses give the user the experience of being able to press lightly to preview an operation and/or press deeply to push “past” or “through” a predefined user interface state corresponding to the operation.

Additionally, for a device with a touch-sensitive surface that is sensitive to a range of contact intensity, multiple contact intensity thresholds can be monitored by the device and different functions can be mapped to different contact intensity thresholds. This serves to increase the available “gesture space” providing easy access to advanced features for users who know that increasing the intensity of a contact at or beyond a second “deep press” intensity threshold will cause the device to perform a different operation from an operation that would be performed if the intensity of the contact is between a first “activation” intensity threshold and the second “deep press” intensity threshold. An advantage of assigning additional functionality to a second “deep press” intensity threshold while maintaining familiar functionality at a first “activation” intensity threshold is that inexperienced users who are, in some circumstances, confused by the additional functionality can use the familiar functionality by just applying an intensity up to the first “activation” intensity threshold, whereas more experienced users can take advantage of the additional functionality by applying an intensity at the second “deep press” intensity threshold.

Additionally, for a device with a touch-sensitive surface that is sensitive to a range of contact intensity, the device can provide additional functionality by allowing users to perform complex operations with a single continuous contact. For example, when selecting a group of objects, a user can move a continuous contact around the touch-sensitive surface and can press while dragging (e.g., applying an intensity greater than a “deep press” intensity threshold) to add additional elements to a selection. In this way, a user can intuitively interact with a user interface where pressing harder with a contact causes objects in the user interface to be “stickier.”

A number of different approaches to providing an intuitive user interface on a device where a clicking action is decoupled from the force that is needed to reach an activation threshold and/or the device is sensitive to a wide range of contact intensities are described below. Using one or more of these approaches (optionally in conjunction with each other) helps to provide a user interface that intuitively provides users with additional information and functionality, thereby reducing the user's cognitive burden and improving the human-machine interface. Such improvements in the human-machine interface enable users to use the device faster and more efficiently. For battery-operated devices, these improvements conserve power and increase the time between battery charges. For ease of explanation, systems, methods and user interfaces for including illustrative examples of some of these approaches are described below, as follows:

-   -   Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces with         moveable user interface objects, such as sliders or scrubbers,         that move along a predefined path. Sometimes, a user moves these         user interface objects by “clicking-and-dragging” or by         selecting a desired location along the predefined path. However,         this can be difficult and frustrating for users, for example,         because it is sometimes difficult to accurately control the         position or speed that the user interface object is being moved         (e.g., when the display is small). The embodiments described         below provide an intuitive and accurate way of moving a user         interface object based on variable intensities of a press input.         In particular, FIGS. 5A-5Y illustrate exemplary user interfaces         for moving user interface objects at varying speeds or through         varying displacements based on variable intensities of a press         input. FIGS. 6A-6D are flow diagrams illustrating a method of         moving user interface objects at varying speeds or through         varying displacements based on variable intensities of a press         input. The user interfaces in FIGS. 5A-5Y are used to illustrate         the processes in FIGS. 6A-6D.     -   Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces that         include various types of controls. It is often desirable to have         different control types respond to inputs in different manners         (e.g., by adjusting a semi-continuous parameter, such as         brightness of a display, or by performing a discrete operation,         such as activating an “airplane mode”). Therefore, there is a         need to distinguish (e.g., in a visual manner) between various         types of controls. The embodiments described below provide a         fast, efficient, and convenient way of providing an indication         to a user on how a control responds to inputs (e.g., indicating         whether a control responds differently to inputs with a variety         of different intensity levels or responds to inputs in         accordance with a particular intensity level) by changing an         appearance of a control. In particular, FIGS. 8A-8I illustrate         exemplary user interfaces for providing an indication to a user         on how a control responds to inputs. FIGS. 9A-9E are flow         diagrams illustrating a method of providing an indication to a         user on how a control responds to inputs. The user interfaces in         FIGS. 8A-8I are further used to illustrate the processes         described below with reference to FIGS. 9A-9E.     -   Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces that         include bidirectional user interface elements, such as sliders         or scrubbers, that move along a predefined path. Sometimes, a         user moves these bidirectional user interface elements by         “clicking-and-dragging” or by selecting a desired location along         the predefined path. This can be difficult and frustrating for         users, for example, because it is sometimes difficult to         accurately control the position or speed that the bidirectional         user interface element is being moved (e.g., when the display is         small). The embodiments described below provide a fast,         efficient, and convenient way for users to adjust a         bidirectional user interface element (e.g., scrolling the photo         album so as to view additional photos in the photo album) in         accordance with a difference in intensity between two detected         inputs. FIGS. 11A-11N illustrate exemplary user interfaces for         adjusting bidirectional user interface elements. FIGS. 12A-12C         are flow diagrams illustrating a method of adjusting         bidirectional user interface elements. The user interfaces in         FIGS. 11A-11N are further used to illustrate the processes         described below with reference to FIGS. 12A-12C.     -   Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces with         controls which, upon activation, perform various operations at         the device. Some controls are linked to more important functions         than other controls (e.g., a button in a user interface that         allows users to permanently delete user accounts, modify         security settings on files or folders, change account passwords,         and the like). It would be helpful to provide a user with         feedback indicating whether or not a particular control is         linked to an important function, for example, by making some         controls harder to activate than others. However, when different         controls have different activation requirements, the user may be         confused as to the requirements to activate a particular         control. The embodiments described below provide a convenient         and intuitive interface that provides an indication of progress         toward activating a control by providing feedback to the user         based on intensity of a contact. In particular, FIGS. 14A-14M         illustrate exemplary user interfaces for managing activation of         controls based on the intensity (e.g., pressure) and/or duration         of a contact. FIGS. 15A-15D are flow diagrams illustrating a         method of managing activation of controls based on the intensity         (e.g., pressure) and/or duration of a contact. The user         interfaces in FIGS. 14A-14M are used to illustrate the processes         in FIGS. 15A-15D.

Exemplary Devices

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact.

The terminology used in the description of the various described embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” is, optionally, construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],” depending on the context.

Embodiments of electronic devices, user interfaces for such devices, and associated processes for using such devices are described. In some embodiments, the device is a portable communications device, such as a mobile telephone, that also contains other functions, such as PDA and/or music player functions. Exemplary embodiments of portable multifunction devices include, without limitation, the iPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® devices from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Other portable electronic devices, such as laptops or tablet computers with touch-sensitive surfaces (e.g., touch screen displays and/or touch pads), are, optionally, used. It should also be understood that, in some embodiments, the device is not a portable communications device, but is a desktop computer with a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touch screen display and/or a touch pad).

In the discussion that follows, an electronic device that includes a display and a touch-sensitive surface is described. It should be understood, however, that the electronic device optionally includes one or more other physical user-interface devices, such as a physical keyboard, a mouse and/or a joystick.

The device typically supports a variety of applications, such as one or more of the following: a drawing application, a presentation application, a word processing application, a website creation application, a disk authoring application, a spreadsheet application, a gaming application, a telephone application, a video conferencing application, an e-mail application, an instant messaging application, a workout support application, a photo management application, a digital camera application, a digital video camera application, a web browsing application, a digital music player application, and/or a digital video player application.

The various applications that are executed on the device optionally use at least one common physical user-interface device, such as the touch-sensitive surface. One or more functions of the touch-sensitive surface as well as corresponding information displayed on the device are, optionally, adjusted and/or varied from one application to the next and/or within a respective application. In this way, a common physical architecture (such as the touch-sensitive surface) of the device optionally supports the variety of applications with user interfaces that are intuitive and transparent to the user.

Attention is now directed toward embodiments of portable devices with touch-sensitive displays. FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating portable multifunction device 100 with touch-sensitive displays 112 in accordance with some embodiments. Touch-sensitive display 112 is sometimes called a “touch screen” for convenience, and is sometimes known as or called a touch-sensitive display system. Device 100 includes memory 102 (which optionally includes one or more computer readable storage mediums), memory controller 122, one or more processing units (CPU's) 120, peripherals interface 118, RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, microphone 113, input/output (I/O) subsystem 106, other input or control devices 116, and external port 124. Device 100 optionally includes one or more optical sensors 164. Device 100 optionally includes one or more intensity sensors 165 for detecting intensity of contacts on device 100 (e.g., a touch-sensitive surface such as touch-sensitive display system 112 of device 100). Device 100 optionally includes one or more tactile output generators 167 for generating tactile outputs on device 100 (e.g., generating tactile outputs on a touch-sensitive surface such as touch-sensitive display system 112 of device 100 or touchpad 355 of device 300). These components optionally communicate over one or more communication buses or signal lines 103.

As used in the specification and claims, the term “intensity” of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface refers to the force or pressure (force per unit area) of a contact (e.g., a finger contact) on the touch sensitive surface, or to a substitute (proxy) for the force or pressure of a contact on the touch sensitive surface. The intensity of a contact has a range of values that includes at least four distinct values and more typically includes hundreds of distinct values (e.g., at least 256). Intensity of a contact is, optionally, determined (or measured) using various approaches and various sensors or combinations of sensors. For example, one or more force sensors underneath or adjacent to the touch-sensitive surface are, optionally, used to measure force at various points on the touch-sensitive surface. In some implementations, force measurements from multiple force sensors are combined (e.g., a weighted average) to determine an estimated force of a contact. Similarly, a pressure-sensitive tip of a stylus is, optionally, used to determine a pressure of the stylus on the touch-sensitive surface. Alternatively, the size of the contact area detected on the touch-sensitive surface and/or changes thereto, the capacitance of the touch-sensitive surface proximate to the contact and/or changes thereto, and/or the resistance of the touch-sensitive surface proximate to the contact and/or changes thereto are, optionally, used as a substitute for the force or pressure of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface. In some implementations, the substitute measurements for contact force or pressure are used directly to determine whether an intensity threshold has been exceeded (e.g., the intensity threshold is described in units corresponding to the substitute measurements). In some implementations, the substitute measurements for contact force or pressure are converted to an estimated force or pressure and the estimated force or pressure is used to determine whether an intensity threshold has been exceeded (e.g., the intensity threshold is a pressure threshold measured in units of pressure).

As used in the specification and claims, the term “tactile output” refers to physical displacement of a device relative to a previous position of the device, physical displacement of a component (e.g., a touch-sensitive surface) of a device relative to another component (e.g., housing) of the device, or displacement of the component relative to a center of mass of the device that will be detected by a user with the user's sense of touch. For example, in situations where the device or the component of the device is in contact with a surface of a user that is sensitive to touch (e.g., a finger, palm, or other part of a user's hand), the tactile output generated by the physical displacement will be interpreted by the user as a tactile sensation corresponding to a perceived change in physical characteristics of the device or the component of the device. For example, movement of a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touch-sensitive display or trackpad) is, optionally, interpreted by the user as a “down click” or “up click” of a physical actuator button. In some cases, a user will feel a tactile sensation such as an “down click” or “up click” even when there is no movement of a physical actuator button associated with the touch-sensitive surface that is physically pressed (e.g., displaced) by the user's movements. As another example, movement of the touch-sensitive surface is, optionally, interpreted or sensed by the user as “roughness” of the touch-sensitive surface, even when there is no change in smoothness of the touch-sensitive surface. While such interpretations of touch by a user will be subject to the individualized sensory perceptions of the user, there are many sensory perceptions of touch that are common to a large majority of users. Thus, when a tactile output is described as corresponding to a particular sensory perception of a user (e.g., an “up click,” a “down click,” “roughness”), unless otherwise stated, the generated tactile output corresponds to physical displacement of the device or a component thereof that will generate the described sensory perception for a typical (or average) user.

It should be appreciated that device 100 is only one example of a portable multifunction device, and that device 100 optionally has more or fewer components than shown, optionally combines two or more components, or optionally has a different configuration or arrangement of the components. The various components shown in FIG. 1A are implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both hardware and software, including one or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits.

Memory 102 optionally includes high-speed random access memory and optionally also includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state memory devices. Access to memory 102 by other components of device 100, such as CPU 120 and the peripherals interface 118, is, optionally, controlled by memory controller 122.

Peripherals interface 118 can be used to couple input and output peripherals of the device to CPU 120 and memory 102. The one or more processors 120 run or execute various software programs and/or sets of instructions stored in memory 102 to perform various functions for device 100 and to process data.

In some embodiments, peripherals interface 118, CPU 120, and memory controller 122 are, optionally, implemented on a single chip, such as chip 104. In some other embodiments, they are, optionally, implemented on separate chips.

RF (radio frequency) circuitry 108 receives and sends RF signals, also called electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 108 converts electrical signals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates with communications networks and other communications devices via the electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 108 optionally includes well-known circuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited to an antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. RF circuitry 108 optionally communicates with networks, such as the Internet, also referred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranet and/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless local area network (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN), and other devices by wireless communication. The wireless communication optionally uses any of a plurality of communications standards, protocols and technologies, including but not limited to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), high-speed uplink packet access (HSDPA), Evolution, Data-Only (EV-DO), HSPA, HSPA+, Dual-Cell HSPA (DC-HSPDA), long term evolution (LTE), near field communication (NFC), wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and/or IEEE 802.11n), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a protocol for e-mail (e.g., Internet message access protocol (IMAP) and/or post office protocol (POP)), instant messaging (e.g., extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP), Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), Instant Messaging and Presence Service (IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service (SMS), or any other suitable communication protocol, including communication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of this document.

Audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, and microphone 113 provide an audio interface between a user and device 100. Audio circuitry 110 receives audio data from peripherals interface 118, converts the audio data to an electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker 111. Speaker 111 converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves. Audio circuitry 110 also receives electrical signals converted by microphone 113 from sound waves. Audio circuitry 110 converts the electrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data to peripherals interface 118 for processing. Audio data is, optionally, retrieved from and/or transmitted to memory 102 and/or RF circuitry 108 by peripherals interface 118. In some embodiments, audio circuitry 110 also includes a headset jack (e.g., 212, FIG. 2). The headset jack provides an interface between audio circuitry 110 and removable audio input/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headset with both output (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears) and input (e.g., a microphone).

I/O subsystem 106 couples input/output peripherals on device 100, such as touch screen 112 and other input control devices 116, to peripherals interface 118. I/O subsystem 106 optionally includes display controller 156, optical sensor controller 158, intensity sensor controller 159, haptic feedback controller 161 and one or more input controllers 160 for other input or control devices. The one or more input controllers 160 receive/send electrical signals from/to other input or control devices 116. The other input control devices 116 optionally include physical buttons (e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, slider switches, joysticks, click wheels, and so forth. In some alternate embodiments, input controller(s) 160 are, optionally, coupled to any (or none) of the following: a keyboard, infrared port, USB port, and a pointer device such as a mouse. The one or more buttons (e.g., 208, FIG. 2) optionally include an up/down button for volume control of speaker 111 and/or microphone 113. The one or more buttons optionally include a push button (e.g., 206, FIG. 2).

Touch-sensitive display 112 provides an input interface and an output interface between the device and a user. Display controller 156 receives and/or sends electrical signals from/to touch screen 112. Touch screen 112 displays visual output to the user. The visual output optionally includes graphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof (collectively termed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all of the visual output corresponds to user-interface objects.

Touch screen 112 has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set of sensors that accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact. Touch screen 112 and display controller 156 (along with any associated modules and/or sets of instructions in memory 102) detect contact (and any movement or breaking of the contact) on touch screen 112 and converts the detected contact into interaction with user-interface objects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages or images) that are displayed on touch screen 112. In an exemplary embodiment, a point of contact between touch screen 112 and the user corresponds to a finger of the user.

Touch screen 112 optionally uses LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, LPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED (light emitting diode) technology, although other display technologies are used in other embodiments. Touch screen 112 and display controller 156 optionally detect contact and any movement or breaking thereof using any of a plurality of touch sensing technologies now known or later developed, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contact with touch screen 112. In an exemplary embodiment, projected mutual capacitance sensing technology is used, such as that found in the iPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.

Touch screen 112 optionally has a video resolution in excess of 100 dpi. In some embodiments, the touch screen has a video resolution of approximately 160 dpi. The user optionally makes contact with touch screen 112 using any suitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, a finger, and so forth. In some embodiments, the user interface is designed to work primarily with finger-based contacts and gestures, which can be less precise than stylus-based input due to the larger area of contact of a finger on the touch screen. In some embodiments, the device translates the rough finger-based input into a precise pointer/cursor position or command for performing the actions desired by the user.

In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, device 100 optionally includes a touchpad (not shown) for activating or deactivating particular functions. In some embodiments, the touchpad is a touch-sensitive area of the device that, unlike the touch screen, does not display visual output. The touchpad is, optionally, a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from touch screen 112 or an extension of the touch-sensitive surface formed by the touch screen.

Device 100 also includes power system 162 for powering the various components. Power system 162 optionally includes a power management system, one or more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current (AC)), a recharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converter or inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED)) and any other components associated with the generation, management and distribution of power in portable devices.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more optical sensors 164. FIG. 1A shows an optical sensor coupled to optical sensor controller 158 in I/O subsystem 106. Optical sensor 164 optionally includes charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) phototransistors. Optical sensor 164 receives light from the environment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the light to data representing an image. In conjunction with imaging module 143 (also called a camera module), optical sensor 164 optionally captures still images or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is located on the back of device 100, opposite touch screen display 112 on the front of the device, so that the touch screen display is enabled for use as a viewfinder for still and/or video image acquisition. In some embodiments, another optical sensor is located on the front of the device so that the user's image is, optionally, obtained for videoconferencing while the user views the other video conference participants on the touch screen display.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more contact intensity sensors 165. FIG. 1A shows a contact intensity sensor coupled to intensity sensor controller 159 in I/O subsystem 106. Contact intensity sensor 165 optionally includes one or more piezoresistive strain gauges, capacitive force sensors, electric force sensors, piezoelectric force sensors, optical force sensors, capacitive touch-sensitive surfaces, or other intensity sensors (e.g., sensors used to measure the force (or pressure) of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface). Contact intensity sensor 165 receives contact intensity information (e.g., pressure information or a proxy for pressure information) from the environment. In some embodiments, at least one contact intensity sensor is collocated with, or proximate to, a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touch-sensitive display system 112). In some embodiments, at least one contact intensity sensor is located on the back of device 100, opposite touch screen display 112 which is located on the front of device 100.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more proximity sensors 166. FIG. 1A shows proximity sensor 166 coupled to peripherals interface 118. Alternately, proximity sensor 166 is coupled to input controller 160 in I/O subsystem 106. In some embodiments, the proximity sensor turns off and disables touch screen 112 when the multifunction device is placed near the user's ear (e.g., when the user is making a phone call).

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more tactile output generators 167. FIG. 1A shows a tactile output generator coupled to haptic feedback controller 161 in I/O subsystem 106. Tactile output generator 167 optionally includes one or more electroacoustic devices such as speakers or other audio components and/or electromechanical devices that convert energy into linear motion such as a motor, solenoid, electroactive polymer, piezoelectric actuator, electrostatic actuator, or other tactile output generating component (e.g., a component that converts electrical signals into tactile outputs on the device). Contact intensity sensor 165 receives tactile feedback generation instructions from haptic feedback module 133 and generates tactile outputs on device 100 that are capable of being sensed by a user of device 100. In some embodiments, at least one tactile output generator is collocated with, or proximate to, a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touch-sensitive display system 112) and, optionally, generates a tactile output by moving the touch-sensitive surface vertically (e.g., in/out of a surface of device 100) or laterally (e.g., back and forth in the same plane as a surface of device 100). In some embodiments, at least one tactile output generator sensor is located on the back of device 100, opposite touch screen display 112 which is located on the front of device 100.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more accelerometers 168. FIG. 1A shows accelerometer 168 coupled to peripherals interface 118. Alternately, accelerometer 168 is, optionally, coupled to an input controller 160 in I/O subsystem 106. In some embodiments, information is displayed on the touch screen display in a portrait view or a landscape view based on an analysis of data received from the one or more accelerometers. Device 100 optionally includes, in addition to accelerometer(s) 168, a magnetometer (not shown) and a GPS (or GLONASS or other global navigation system) receiver (not shown) for obtaining information concerning the location and orientation (e.g., portrait or landscape) of device 100.

In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory 102 include operating system 126, communication module (or set of instructions) 128, contact/motion module (or set of instructions) 130, graphics module (or set of instructions) 132, text input module (or set of instructions) 134, Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set of instructions) 135, and applications (or sets of instructions) 136. Furthermore, in some embodiments memory 102 stores device/global internal state 157, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 3. Device/global internal state 157 includes one or more of: active application state, indicating which applications, if any, are currently active; display state, indicating what applications, views or other information occupy various regions of touch screen display 112; sensor state, including information obtained from the device's various sensors and input control devices 116; and location information concerning the device's location and/or attitude.

Operating system 126 (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includes various software components and/or drivers for controlling and managing general system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, power management, etc.) and facilitates communication between various hardware and software components.

Communication module 128 facilitates communication with other devices over one or more external ports 124 and also includes various software components for handling data received by RF circuitry 108 and/or external port 124. External port 124 (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices or indirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.). In some embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g., 30-pin) connector that is the same as, or similar to and/or compatible with the 30-pin connector used on iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) devices.

Contact/motion module 130 optionally detects contact with touch screen 112 (in conjunction with display controller 156) and other touch sensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel). Contact/motion module 130 includes various software components for performing various operations related to detection of contact, such as determining if contact has occurred (e.g., detecting a finger-down event), determining an intensity of the contact (e.g., the force or pressure of the contact or a substitute for the force or pressure of the contact) determining if there is movement of the contact and tracking the movement across the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting one or more finger-dragging events), and determining if the contact has ceased (e.g., detecting a finger-up event or a break in contact). Contact/motion module 130 receives contact data from the touch-sensitive surface. Determining movement of the point of contact, which is represented by a series of contact data, optionally includes determining speed (magnitude), velocity (magnitude and direction), and/or an acceleration (a change in magnitude and/or direction) of the point of contact. These operations are, optionally, applied to single contacts (e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiple simultaneous contacts (e.g., “multitouch”/multiple finger contacts). In some embodiments, contact/motion module 130 and display controller 156 detect contact on a touchpad.

In some embodiments, contact/motion module 130 uses a set of one or more intensity thresholds to determine whether an operation has been performed by a user (e.g., to determine whether a user has “clicked” on an icon). In some embodiments at least a subset of the intensity thresholds are determined in accordance with software parameters (e.g., the intensity thresholds are not determined by the activation thresholds of particular physical actuators and can be adjusted without changing the physical hardware of device 100). For example, a mouse “click” threshold of a trackpad or touch screen display can be set to any of a large range of predefined thresholds values without changing the trackpad or touch screen display hardware. Additionally, in some implementations a user of the device is provided with software settings for adjusting one or more of the set of intensity thresholds (e.g., by adjusting individual intensity thresholds and/or by adjusting a plurality of intensity thresholds at once with a system-level click “intensity” parameter).

Contact/motion module 130 optionally detects a gesture input by a user. Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have different contact patterns and intensities. Thus, a gesture is, optionally, detected by detecting a particular contact pattern. For example, detecting a finger tap gesture includes detecting a finger-down event followed by detecting a finger-up (lift off) event at the same position (or substantially the same position) as the finger-down event (e.g., at the position of an icon). As another example, detecting a finger swipe gesture on the touch-sensitive surface includes detecting a finger-down event followed by detecting one or more finger-dragging events, and subsequently followed by detecting a finger-up (lift off) event.

Graphics module 132 includes various known software components for rendering and displaying graphics on touch screen 112 or other display, including components for changing the visual impact (e.g., brightness, transparency, saturation, contrast or other visual property) of graphics that are displayed. As used herein, the term “graphics” includes any object that can be displayed to a user, including without limitation text, web pages, icons (such as user-interface objects including soft keys), digital images, videos, animations and the like.

In some embodiments, graphics module 132 stores data representing graphics to be used. Each graphic is, optionally, assigned a corresponding code. Graphics module 132 receives, from applications etc., one or more codes specifying graphics to be displayed along with, if necessary, coordinate data and other graphic property data, and then generates screen image data to output to display controller 156.

Haptic feedback module 133 includes various software components for generating instructions used by tactile output generator(s) 167 to produce tactile outputs at one or more locations on device 100 in response to user interactions with device 100.

Text input module 134, which is, optionally, a component of graphics module 132, provides soft keyboards for entering text in various applications (e.g., contacts 137, e-mail 140, IM 141, browser 147, and any other application that needs text input).

GPS module 135 determines the location of the device and provides this information for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone 138 for use in location-based dialing, to camera 143 as picture/video metadata, and to applications that provide location-based services such as weather widgets, local yellow page widgets, and map/navigation widgets).

Applications 136 optionally include the following modules (or sets of instructions), or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   contacts module 137 (sometimes called an address book or contact         list);     -   telephone module 138;     -   video conferencing module 139;     -   e-mail client module 140;     -   instant messaging (IM) module 141;     -   workout support module 142;     -   camera module 143 for still and/or video images;     -   image management module 144;     -   browser module 147;     -   calendar module 148;     -   widget modules 149, which optionally include one or more of:         weather widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget         149-3, alarm clock widget 149-4, dictionary widget 149-5, and         other widgets obtained by the user, as well as user-created         widgets 149-6;     -   widget creator module 150 for making user-created widgets 149-6;     -   search module 151;     -   video and music player module 152, which is, optionally, made up         of a video player module and a music player module;     -   notes module 153;     -   map module 154; and/or     -   online video module 155.

Examples of other applications 136 that are, optionally, stored in memory 102 include other word processing applications, other image editing applications, drawing applications, presentation applications, JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voice recognition, and voice replication.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, contacts module 137 are, optionally, used to manage an address book or contact list (e.g., stored in application internal state 192 of contacts module 137 in memory 102 or memory 370), including: adding name(s) to the address book; deleting name(s) from the address book; associating telephone number(s), e-mail address(es), physical address(es) or other information with a name; associating an image with a name; categorizing and sorting names; providing telephone numbers or e-mail addresses to initiate and/or facilitate communications by telephone 138, video conference 139, e-mail 140, or IM 141; and so forth.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, telephone module 138 are, optionally, used to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to a telephone number, access one or more telephone numbers in address book 137, modify a telephone number that has been entered, dial a respective telephone number, conduct a conversation and disconnect or hang up when the conversation is completed. As noted above, the wireless communication optionally uses any of a plurality of communications standards, protocols and technologies.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, optical sensor 164, optical sensor controller 158, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, contact list 137, and telephone module 138, videoconferencing module 139 includes executable instructions to initiate, conduct, and terminate a video conference between a user and one or more other participants in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, e-mail client module 140 includes executable instructions to create, send, receive, and manage e-mail in response to user instructions. In conjunction with image management module 144, e-mail client module 140 makes it very easy to create and send e-mails with still or video images taken with camera module 143.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, the instant messaging module 141 includes executable instructions to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to an instant message, to modify previously entered characters, to transmit a respective instant message (for example, using a Short Message Service (SMS) or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol for telephony-based instant messages or using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-based instant messages), to receive instant messages and to view received instant messages. In some embodiments, transmitted and/or received instant messages optionally include graphics, photos, audio files, video files and/or other attachments as are supported in a MMS and/or an Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS). As used herein, “instant messaging” refers to both telephony-based messages (e.g., messages sent using SMS or MMS) and Internet-based messages (e.g., messages sent using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, GPS module 135, map module 154, and music player module 146, workout support module 142 includes executable instructions to create workouts (e.g., with time, distance, and/or calorie burning goals); communicate with workout sensors (sports devices); receive workout sensor data; calibrate sensors used to monitor a workout; select and play music for a workout; and display, store and transmit workout data.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, optical sensor(s) 164, optical sensor controller 158, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and image management module 144, camera module 143 includes executable instructions to capture still images or video (including a video stream) and store them into memory 102, modify characteristics of a still image or video, or delete a still image or video from memory 102.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, and camera module 143, image management module 144 includes executable instructions to arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or otherwise manipulate, label, delete, present (e.g., in a digital slide show or album), and store still and/or video images.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, browser module 147 includes executable instructions to browse the Internet in accordance with user instructions, including searching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages or portions thereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to web pages.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, e-mail client module 140, and browser module 147, calendar module 148 includes executable instructions to create, display, modify, and store calendars and data associated with calendars (e.g., calendar entries, to do lists, etc.) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, and browser module 147, widget modules 149 are mini-applications that are, optionally, downloaded and used by a user (e.g., weather widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget 149-3, alarm clock widget 149-4, and dictionary widget 149-5) or created by the user (e.g., user-created widget 149-6). In some embodiments, a widget includes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In some embodiments, a widget includes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file and a JavaScript file (e.g., Yahoo! Widgets).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, and browser module 147, the widget creator module 150 are, optionally, used by a user to create widgets (e.g., turning a user-specified portion of a web page into a widget).

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, search module 151 includes executable instructions to search for text, music, sound, image, video, and/or other files in memory 102 that match one or more search criteria (e.g., one or more user-specified search terms) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, RF circuitry 108, and browser module 147, video and music player module 152 includes executable instructions that allow the user to download and play back recorded music and other sound files stored in one or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC files, and executable instructions to display, present or otherwise play back videos (e.g., on touch screen 112 or on an external, connected display via external port 124). In some embodiments, device 100 optionally includes the functionality of an MP3 player, such as an iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.).

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, notes module 153 includes executable instructions to create and manage notes, to do lists, and the like in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, GPS module 135, and browser module 147, map module 154 are, optionally, used to receive, display, modify, and store maps and data associated with maps (e.g., driving directions; data on stores and other points of interest at or near a particular location; and other location-based data) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, RF circuitry 108, text input module 134, e-mail client module 140, and browser module 147, online video module 155 includes instructions that allow the user to access, browse, receive (e.g., by streaming and/or download), play back (e.g., on the touch screen or on an external, connected display via external port 124), send an e-mail with a link to a particular online video, and otherwise manage online videos in one or more file formats, such as H.264. In some embodiments, instant messaging module 141, rather than e-mail client module 140, is used to send a link to a particular online video.

Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to a set of executable instructions for performing one or more functions described above and the methods described in this application (e.g., the computer-implemented methods and other information processing methods described herein). These modules (i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules are, optionally, combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 102 optionally stores a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 102 optionally stores additional modules and data structures not described above.

In some embodiments, device 100 is a device where operation of a predefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusively through a touch screen and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/or a touchpad as the primary input control device for operation of device 100, the number of physical input control devices (such as push buttons, dials, and the like) on device 100 is, optionally, reduced.

The predefined set of functions that are performed exclusively through a touch screen and/or a touchpad optionally include navigation between user interfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by the user, navigates device 100 to a main, home, or root menu from any user interface that is displayed on device 100. In such embodiments, a “menu button” is implemented using a touchpad. In some other embodiments, the menu button is a physical push button or other physical input control device instead of a touchpad.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for event handling in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 102 (in FIG. 1A) or 370 (FIG. 3) includes event sorter 170 (e.g., in operating system 126) and a respective application 136-1 (e.g., any of the aforementioned applications 137-151, 155, 380-390).

Event sorter 170 receives event information and determines the application 136-1 and application view 191 of application 136-1 to which to deliver the event information. Event sorter 170 includes event monitor 171 and event dispatcher module 174. In some embodiments, application 136-1 includes application internal state 192, which indicates the current application view(s) displayed on touch sensitive display 112 when the application is active or executing. In some embodiments, device/global internal state 157 is used by event sorter 170 to determine which application(s) is (are) currently active, and application internal state 192 is used by event sorter 170 to determine application views 191 to which to deliver event information.

In some embodiments, application internal state 192 includes additional information, such as one or more of: resume information to be used when application 136-1 resumes execution, user interface state information that indicates information being displayed or that is ready for display by application 136-1, a state queue for enabling the user to go back to a prior state or view of application 136-1, and a redo/undo queue of previous actions taken by the user.

Event monitor 171 receives event information from peripherals interface 118. Event information includes information about a sub-event (e.g., a user touch on touch-sensitive display 112, as part of a multi-touch gesture). Peripherals interface 118 transmits information it receives from I/O subsystem 106 or a sensor, such as proximity sensor 166, accelerometer(s) 168, and/or microphone 113 (through audio circuitry 110). Information that peripherals interface 118 receives from I/O subsystem 106 includes information from touch-sensitive display 112 or a touch-sensitive surface.

In some embodiments, event monitor 171 sends requests to the peripherals interface 118 at predetermined intervals. In response, peripherals interface 118 transmits event information. In other embodiments, peripheral interface 118 transmits event information only when there is a significant event (e.g., receiving an input above a predetermined noise threshold and/or for more than a predetermined duration).

In some embodiments, event sorter 170 also includes a hit view determination module 172 and/or an active event recognizer determination module 173.

Hit view determination module 172 provides software procedures for determining where a sub-event has taken place within one or more views, when touch sensitive display 112 displays more than one view. Views are made up of controls and other elements that a user can see on the display.

Another aspect of the user interface associated with an application is a set of views, sometimes herein called application views or user interface windows, in which information is displayed and touch-based gestures occur. The application views (of a respective application) in which a touch is detected optionally correspond to programmatic levels within a programmatic or view hierarchy of the application. For example, the lowest level view in which a touch is detected is, optionally, called the hit view, and the set of events that are recognized as proper inputs are, optionally, determined based, at least in part, on the hit view of the initial touch that begins a touch-based gesture.

Hit view determination module 172 receives information related to sub-events of a touch-based gesture. When an application has multiple views organized in a hierarchy, hit view determination module 172 identifies a hit view as the lowest view in the hierarchy which should handle the sub-event. In most circumstances, the hit view is the lowest level view in which an initiating sub-event occurs (i.e., the first sub-event in the sequence of sub-events that form an event or potential event). Once the hit view is identified by the hit view determination module, the hit view typically receives all sub-events related to the same touch or input source for which it was identified as the hit view.

Active event recognizer determination module 173 determines which view or views within a view hierarchy should receive a particular sequence of sub-events. In some embodiments, active event recognizer determination module 173 determines that only the hit view should receive a particular sequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, active event recognizer determination module 173 determines that all views that include the physical location of a sub-event are actively involved views, and therefore determines that all actively involved views should receive a particular sequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, even if touch sub-events were entirely confined to the area associated with one particular view, views higher in the hierarchy would still remain as actively involved views.

Event dispatcher module 174 dispatches the event information to an event recognizer (e.g., event recognizer 180). In embodiments including active event recognizer determination module 173, event dispatcher module 174 delivers the event information to an event recognizer determined by active event recognizer determination module 173. In some embodiments, event dispatcher module 174 stores in an event queue the event information, which is retrieved by a respective event receiver module 182.

In some embodiments, operating system 126 includes event sorter 170. Alternatively, application 136-1 includes event sorter 170. In yet other embodiments, event sorter 170 is a stand-alone module, or a part of another module stored in memory 102, such as contact/motion module 130.

In some embodiments, application 136-1 includes a plurality of event handlers 190 and one or more application views 191, each of which includes instructions for handling touch events that occur within a respective view of the application's user interface. Each application view 191 of the application 136-1 includes one or more event recognizers 180. Typically, a respective application view 191 includes a plurality of event recognizers 180. In other embodiments, one or more of event recognizers 180 are part of a separate module, such as a user interface kit (not shown) or a higher level object from which application 136-1 inherits methods and other properties. In some embodiments, a respective event handler 190 includes one or more of: data updater 176, object updater 177, GUI updater 178, and/or event data 179 received from event sorter 170. Event handler 190 optionally utilizes or calls data updater 176, object updater 177 or GUI updater 178 to update the application internal state 192. Alternatively, one or more of the application views 191 includes one or more respective event handlers 190. Also, in some embodiments, one or more of data updater 176, object updater 177, and GUI updater 178 are included in a respective application view 191.

A respective event recognizer 180 receives event information (e.g., event data 179) from event sorter 170, and identifies an event from the event information. Event recognizer 180 includes event receiver 182 and event comparator 184. In some embodiments, event recognizer 180 also includes at least a subset of: metadata 183, and event delivery instructions 188 (which optionally include sub-event delivery instructions).

Event receiver 182 receives event information from event sorter 170. The event information includes information about a sub-event, for example, a touch or a touch movement. Depending on the sub-event, the event information also includes additional information, such as location of the sub-event. When the sub-event concerns motion of a touch, the event information optionally also includes speed and direction of the sub-event. In some embodiments, events include rotation of the device from one orientation to another (e.g., from a portrait orientation to a landscape orientation, or vice versa), and the event information includes corresponding information about the current orientation (also called device attitude) of the device.

Event comparator 184 compares the event information to predefined event or sub-event definitions and, based on the comparison, determines an event or sub-event, or determines or updates the state of an event or sub-event. In some embodiments, event comparator 184 includes event definitions 186. Event definitions 186 contain definitions of events (e.g., predefined sequences of sub-events), for example, event 1 (187-1), event 2 (187-2), and others. In some embodiments, sub-events in an event 187 include, for example, touch begin, touch end, touch movement, touch cancellation, and multiple touching. In one example, the definition for event 1 (187-1) is a double tap on a displayed object. The double tap, for example, comprises a first touch (touch begin) on the displayed object for a predetermined phase, a first lift-off (touch end) for a predetermined phase, a second touch (touch begin) on the displayed object for a predetermined phase, and a second lift-off (touch end) for a predetermined phase. In another example, the definition for event 2 (187-2) is a dragging on a displayed object. The dragging, for example, comprises a touch (or contact) on the displayed object for a predetermined phase, a movement of the touch across touch-sensitive display 112, and lift-off of the touch (touch end). In some embodiments, the event also includes information for one or more associated event handlers 190.

In some embodiments, event definition 187 includes a definition of an event for a respective user-interface object. In some embodiments, event comparator 184 performs a hit test to determine which user-interface object is associated with a sub-event. For example, in an application view in which three user-interface objects are displayed on touch-sensitive display 112, when a touch is detected on touch-sensitive display 112, event comparator 184 performs a hit test to determine which of the three user-interface objects is associated with the touch (sub-event). If each displayed object is associated with a respective event handler 190, the event comparator uses the result of the hit test to determine which event handler 190 should be activated. For example, event comparator 184 selects an event handler associated with the sub-event and the object triggering the hit test.

In some embodiments, the definition for a respective event 187 also includes delayed actions that delay delivery of the event information until after it has been determined whether the sequence of sub-events does or does not correspond to the event recognizer's event type.

When a respective event recognizer 180 determines that the series of sub-events do not match any of the events in event definitions 186, the respective event recognizer 180 enters an event impossible, event failed, or event ended state, after which it disregards subsequent sub-events of the touch-based gesture. In this situation, other event recognizers, if any, that remain active for the hit view continue to track and process sub-events of an ongoing touch-based gesture.

In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 180 includes metadata 183 with configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate how the event delivery system should perform sub-event delivery to actively involved event recognizers. In some embodiments, metadata 183 includes configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate how event recognizers interact, or are enabled to interact, with one another. In some embodiments, metadata 183 includes configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate whether sub-events are delivered to varying levels in the view or programmatic hierarchy.

In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 180 activates event handler 190 associated with an event when one or more particular sub-events of an event are recognized. In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 180 delivers event information associated with the event to event handler 190. Activating an event handler 190 is distinct from sending (and deferred sending) sub-events to a respective hit view. In some embodiments, event recognizer 180 throws a flag associated with the recognized event, and event handler 190 associated with the flag catches the flag and performs a predefined process.

In some embodiments, event delivery instructions 188 include sub-event delivery instructions that deliver event information about a sub-event without activating an event handler. Instead, the sub-event delivery instructions deliver event information to event handlers associated with the series of sub-events or to actively involved views. Event handlers associated with the series of sub-events or with actively involved views receive the event information and perform a predetermined process.

In some embodiments, data updater 176 creates and updates data used in application 136-1. For example, data updater 176 updates the telephone number used in contacts module 137, or stores a video file used in video player module 145. In some embodiments, object updater 177 creates and updates objects used in application 136-1. For example, object updater 177 creates a new user-interface object or updates the position of a user-interface object. GUI updater 178 updates the GUI. For example, GUI updater 178 prepares display information and sends it to graphics module 132 for display on a touch-sensitive display.

In some embodiments, event handler(s) 190 includes or has access to data updater 176, object updater 177, and GUI updater 178. In some embodiments, data updater 176, object updater 177, and GUI updater 178 are included in a single module of a respective application 136-1 or application view 191. In other embodiments, they are included in two or more software modules.

It shall be understood that the foregoing discussion regarding event handling of user touches on touch-sensitive displays also applies to other forms of user inputs to operate multifunction devices 100 with input-devices, not all of which are initiated on touch screens. For example, mouse movement and mouse button presses, optionally coordinated with single or multiple keyboard presses or holds; contact movements such as taps, drags, scrolls, etc., on touch-pads; pen stylus inputs; movement of the device; oral instructions; detected eye movements; biometric inputs; and/or any combination thereof are optionally utilized as inputs corresponding to sub-events which define an event to be recognized.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portable multifunction device 100 having a touch screen 112 in accordance with some embodiments. The touch screen optionally displays one or more graphics within user interface (UI) 200. In this embodiment, as well as others described below, a user is enabled to select one or more of the graphics by making a gesture on the graphics, for example, with one or more fingers 202 (not drawn to scale in the figure) or one or more styluses 203 (not drawn to scale in the figure). In some embodiments, selection of one or more graphics occurs when the user breaks contact with the one or more graphics. In some embodiments, the gesture optionally includes one or more taps, one or more swipes (from left to right, right to left, upward and/or downward) and/or a rolling of a finger (from right to left, left to right, upward and/or downward) that has made contact with device 100. In some implementations or circumstances, inadvertent contact with a graphic does not select the graphic. For example, a swipe gesture that sweeps over an application icon optionally does not select the corresponding application when the gesture corresponding to selection is a tap.

Device 100 optionally also includes one or more physical buttons, such as “home” or menu button 204. As described previously, menu button 204 is, optionally, used to navigate to any application 136 in a set of applications that are, optionally executed on device 100. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the menu button is implemented as a soft key in a GUI displayed on touch screen 112.

In one embodiment, device 100 includes touch screen 112, menu button 204, push button 206 for powering the device on/off and locking the device, volume adjustment button(s) 208, Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card slot 210, head set jack 212, and docking/charging external port 124. Push button 206 is, optionally, used to turn the power on/off on the device by depressing the button and holding the button in the depressed state for a predefined time interval; to lock the device by depressing the button and releasing the button before the predefined time interval has elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate an unlock process. In an alternative embodiment, device 100 also accepts verbal input for activation or deactivation of some functions through microphone 113. Device 100 also, optionally, includes one or more contact intensity sensors 165 for detecting intensity of contacts on touch screen 112 and/or one or more tactile output generators 167 for generating tactile outputs for a user of device 100.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface in accordance with some embodiments. Device 300 need not be portable. In some embodiments, device 300 is a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a multimedia player device, a navigation device, an educational device (such as a child's learning toy), a gaming system, or a control device (e.g., a home or industrial controller). Device 300 typically includes one or more processing units (CPU's) 310, one or more network or other communications interfaces 360, memory 370, and one or more communication buses 320 for interconnecting these components. Communication buses 320 optionally include circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) that interconnects and controls communications between system components. Device 300 includes input/output (I/O) interface 330 comprising display 340, which is typically a touch screen display. I/O interface 330 also optionally includes a keyboard and/or mouse (or other pointing device) 350 and touchpad 355, tactile output generator 357 for generating tactile outputs on device 300 (e.g., similar to tactile output generator(s) 167 described above with reference to FIG. 1A), sensors 359 (e.g., optical, acceleration, proximity, touch-sensitive, and/or contact intensity sensors similar to contact intensity sensor(s) 165 described above with reference to FIG. 1A). Memory 370 includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or other random access solid state memory devices; and optionally includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storage devices. Memory 370 optionally includes one or more storage devices remotely located from CPU(s) 310. In some embodiments, memory 370 stores programs, modules, and data structures analogous to the programs, modules, and data structures stored in memory 102 of portable multifunction device 100 (FIG. 1A), or a subset thereof. Furthermore, memory 370 optionally stores additional programs, modules, and data structures not present in memory 102 of portable multifunction device 100. For example, memory 370 of device 300 optionally stores drawing module 380, presentation module 382, word processing module 384, website creation module 386, disk authoring module 388, and/or spreadsheet module 390, while memory 102 of portable multifunction device 100 (FIG. 1A) optionally does not store these modules.

Each of the above identified elements in FIG. 3 are, optionally, stored in one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices. Each of the above identified modules corresponds to a set of instructions for performing a function described above. The above identified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules are, optionally, combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 370 optionally stores a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 370 optionally stores additional modules and data structures not described above.

Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”) that is, optionally, implemented on portable multifunction device 100.

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary user interface for a menu of applications on portable multifunction device 100 in accordance with some embodiments. Similar user interfaces are, optionally, implemented on device 300. In some embodiments, user interface 400 includes the following elements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   Signal strength indicator(s) 402 for wireless communication(s),         such as cellular and Wi-Fi signals;     -   Time 404;     -   Bluetooth indicator 405;     -   Battery status indicator 406;     -   Tray 408 with icons for frequently used applications, such as:         -   Icon 416 for telephone module 138, labeled “Phone,” which             optionally includes an indicator 414 of the number of missed             calls or voicemail messages;         -   Icon 418 for e-mail client module 140, labeled “Mail,” which             optionally includes an indicator 410 of the number of unread             e-mails;         -   Icon 420 for browser module 147, labeled “Browser;” and         -   Icon 422 for video and music player module 152, also             referred to as iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) module 152,             labeled “iPod;” and     -   Icons for other applications, such as:         -   Icon 424 for IM module 141, labeled “Text;”         -   Icon 426 for calendar module 148, labeled “Calendar;”         -   Icon 428 for image management module 144, labeled “Photos;”         -   Icon 430 for camera module 143, labeled “Camera;”         -   Icon 432 for online video module 155, labeled “Online Video”         -   Icon 434 for stocks widget 149-2, labeled “Stocks;”         -   Icon 436 for map module 154, labeled “Map;”         -   Icon 438 for weather widget 149-1, labeled “Weather;”         -   Icon 440 for alarm clock widget 149-4, labeled “Clock;”         -   Icon 442 for workout support module 142, labeled “Workout             Support;”         -   Icon 444 for notes module 153, labeled “Notes;” and         -   Icon 446 for a settings application or module, which             provides access to settings for device 100 and its various             applications 136.

It should be noted that the icon labels illustrated in FIG. 4A are merely exemplary. For example, icon 422 for video and music player module 152 are labeled “Music” or “Music Player.” Other labels are, optionally, used for various application icons. In some embodiments, a label for a respective application icon includes a name of an application corresponding to the respective application icon. In some embodiments, a label for a particular application icon is distinct from a name of an application corresponding to the particular application icon.

FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary user interface on a device (e.g., device 300, FIG. 3) with a touch-sensitive surface 451 (e.g., a tablet or touchpad 355, FIG. 3) that is separate from the display 450 (e.g., touch screen display 112). Device 300 also, optionally, includes one or more contact intensity sensors (e.g., one or more of sensors 357) for detecting intensity of contacts on touch-sensitive surface 451 and/or one or more tactile output generators 359 for generating tactile outputs for a user of device 300.

Although some of the examples which follow will be given with reference to inputs on touch screen display 112 (where the touch sensitive surface and the display are combined), in some embodiments, the device detects inputs on a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the display, as shown in FIG. 4B. In some embodiments the touch sensitive surface (e.g., 451 in FIG. 4B) has a primary axis (e.g., 452 in FIG. 4B) that corresponds to a primary axis (e.g., 453 in FIG. 4B) on the display (e.g., 450). In accordance with these embodiments, the device detects contacts (e.g., 460 and 462 in FIG. 4B) with the touch-sensitive surface 451 at locations that correspond to respective locations on the display (e.g., in FIG. 4B, 460 corresponds to 468 and 462 corresponds to 470). In this way, user inputs (e.g., contacts 460 and 462, and movements thereof) detected by the device on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., 451 in FIG. 4B) are used by the device to manipulate the user interface on the display (e.g., 450 in FIG. 4B) of the multifunction device when the touch-sensitive surface is separate from the display. It should be understood that similar methods are, optionally, used for other user interfaces described herein.

Additionally, while the following examples are given primarily with reference to finger inputs (e.g., finger contacts, finger tap gestures, finger swipe gestures), it should be understood that, in some embodiments, one or more of the finger inputs are replaced with input from another input device (e.g., a mouse based input or stylus input). For example, a swipe gesture is, optionally, replaced with a mouse click (e.g., instead of a contact) followed by movement of the cursor along the path of the swipe (e.g., instead of movement of the contact). As another example, a tap gesture is, optionally, replaced with a mouse click while the cursor is located over the location of the tap gesture (e.g., instead of detection of the contact followed by ceasing to detect the contact). Similarly, when multiple user inputs are simultaneously detected, it should be understood that multiple computer mice are, optionally, used simultaneously, or a mouse and finger contacts are, optionally, used simultaneously.

As used herein, the term “focus selector” refers to an input element that indicates a current part of a user interface with which a user is interacting. In some implementations that include a cursor or other location marker, the cursor acts as a “focus selector,” so that when an input (e.g., a press input) is detected on a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touchpad 355 in FIG. 3 or touch-sensitive surface 451 in FIG. 4B) while the cursor is over a particular user interface element (e.g., a button, window, slider or other user interface element), the particular user interface element is adjusted in accordance with the detected input. In some implementations that include a touch-screen display (e.g., touch-sensitive display system 112 in FIG. 1A or touch screen 112 in FIG. 4A) that enables direct interaction with user interface elements on the touch-screen display, a detected contact on the touch-screen acts as a “focus selector,” so that when an input (e.g., a press input by the contact) is detected on the touch-screen display at a location of a particular user interface element (e.g., a button, window, slider or other user interface element), the particular user interface element is adjusted in accordance with the detected input. In some implementations focus is moved from one region of a user interface to another region of the user interface without corresponding movement of a cursor or movement of a contact on a touch-screen display (e.g., by using a tab key or arrow keys to move focus from one button to another button); in these implementations, the focus selector moves in accordance with movement of focus between different regions of the user interface. Without regard to the specific form taken by the focus selector, the focus selector is generally the user interface element (or contact on a touch-screen display) that is controlled by the user so as to communicate the user's intended interaction with the user interface (e.g., by indicating, to the device, the element of the user interface with which the user is intending to interact). For example, the location of a focus selector (e.g., a cursor, a contact or a selection box) over a respective button while a press input is detected on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touchpad or touch screen) will indicate that the user is intending to activate the respective button (as opposed to other user interface elements shown on a display of the device).

The user interface figures described below include various intensity diagrams that show the current intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface relative to one or more intensity thresholds (e.g., a contact detection intensity threshold IT₀, a light press intensity threshold IT_(L), a deep press intensity threshold ITS, and/or one or more other intensity thresholds). This intensity diagram is typically not part of the displayed user interface, but is provided to aid in the interpretation of the figures. In some embodiments, the light press intensity threshold corresponds to an intensity at which the device will perform operations typically associated with clicking a button of a physical mouse or a trackpad. In some embodiments, the deep press intensity threshold corresponds to an intensity at which the device will perform operations that are different from operations typically associated with clicking a button of a physical mouse or a trackpad. In some embodiments, when a contact is detected with an intensity below the light press intensity threshold (e.g., and above a nominal contact-detection intensity threshold IT₀ below which the contact is no longer detected), the device will move a focus selector in accordance with movement of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface without performing an operation associated with the light press intensity threshold or the deep press intensity threshold. Generally, unless otherwise stated, these intensity thresholds are consistent between different sets of user interface figures.

An increase of intensity of the contact from an intensity below the light press intensity threshold IT_(L) to an intensity between the light press intensity threshold IT_(L) and the deep press intensity threshold IT_(D) is sometimes referred to as a “light press” input. An increase of intensity of the contact from an intensity below the deep press intensity threshold IT_(D) to an intensity above the deep press intensity threshold IT_(D) is sometimes referred to as a “deep press” input. An increase of intensity of the contact from an intensity below the contact-detection intensity threshold IT₀ to an intensity between the contact-detection intensity threshold IT₀ and the light press intensity threshold IT_(L) is sometimes referred to as detecting the contact on the touch-surface. A decrease of intensity of the contact from an intensity above the contact-detection intensity threshold IT₀ to an intensity below the contact intensity threshold IT₀ is sometimes referred to as detecting liftoff of the contact from the touch-surface. In some embodiments IT₀ is zero. In some embodiments IT₀ is greater than zero. In some illustrations a shaded circle or oval is used to represent intensity of a contact on the touch-sensitive surface. In some illustrations a circle or oval without shading is used represent a respective contact on the touch-sensitive surface without specifying the intensity of the respective contact.

In some embodiments described herein, one or more operations are performed in response to detecting a gesture that includes a respective press input or in response to detecting the respective press input performed with a respective contact (or a plurality of contacts), where the respective press input is detected based at least in part on detecting an increase in intensity of the contact (or plurality of contacts) above a press-input intensity threshold. In some embodiments, the respective operation is performed in response to detecting the increase in intensity of the respective contact above the press-input intensity threshold (e.g., a “down stroke” of the respective press input). In some embodiments, the press input includes an increase in intensity of the respective contact above the press-input intensity threshold and a subsequent decrease in intensity of the contact below the press-input intensity threshold, and the respective operation is performed in response to detecting the subsequent decrease in intensity of the respective contact below the press-input threshold (e.g., an “up stroke” of the respective press input).

In some embodiments, the device employs intensity hysteresis to avoid accidental inputs sometimes termed “jitter,” where the device defines or selects a hysteresis intensity threshold with a predefined relationship to the press-input intensity threshold (e.g., the hysteresis intensity threshold is X intensity units lower than the press-input intensity threshold or the hysteresis intensity threshold is 75%, 90% or some reasonable proportion of the press-input intensity threshold). Thus, in some embodiments, the press input includes an increase in intensity of the respective contact above the press-input intensity threshold and a subsequent decrease in intensity of the contact below the hysteresis intensity threshold that corresponds to the press-input intensity threshold, and the respective operation is performed in response to detecting the subsequent decrease in intensity of the respective contact below the hysteresis intensity threshold (e.g., an “up stroke” of the respective press input). Similarly, in some embodiments, the press input is detected only when the device detects an increase in intensity of the contact from an intensity at or below the hysteresis intensity threshold to an intensity at or above the press-input intensity threshold and, optionally, a subsequent decrease in intensity of the contact to an intensity at or below the hysteresis intensity, and the respective operation is performed in response to detecting the press input (e.g., the increase in intensity of the contact or the decrease in intensity of the contact, depending on the circumstances).

For ease of explanation, the description of operations performed in response to a press input associated with a press-input intensity threshold or in response to a gesture including the press input are, optionally, triggered in response to detecting either: an increase in intensity of a contact above the press-input intensity threshold, an increase in intensity of a contact from an intensity below the hysteresis intensity threshold to an intensity above the press-input intensity threshold, a decrease in intensity of the contact below the press-input intensity threshold, and/or a decrease in intensity of the contact below the hysteresis intensity threshold corresponding to the press-input intensity threshold. Additionally, in examples where an operation is described as being performed in response to detecting a decrease in intensity of a contact below the press-input intensity threshold, the operation is, optionally, performed in response to detecting a decrease in intensity of the contact below a hysteresis intensity threshold corresponding to, and lower than, the press-input intensity threshold.

User Interfaces and Associated Processes Moving a User Interface Object Based on an Intensity of a Press Input

Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces with moveable user interface objects (e.g., a handle of a slider control, such as a thumb of a volume or content slider or scrubber; an application window; an icon on a desktop or file manager application; or an image). Typically, such electronic devices allow the user to interact with and move the moveable user interface objects by physically dragging the user interface objects, along a desired and/or predefined trajectory, to a desired location. For example, a user can physically move or displace the thumb of a volume control slider to achieve a desired volume or loudness of sound emanating from the device. In such designs, the user is required to physically move a contact (e.g., a contact on a touch screen or a touch sensitive surface) in order to move the moveable user interface object on the display. Alternatively, when a user interface object is confined to a predefined path, selecting a location on the predefined path will move the user interface object to the location on the predefined path. For example, a user can select (e.g., “click on”) a middle of a volume slider control to adjust a volume level of the device to a volume level corresponding to the middle of the volume slider control. Additionally, it would be advantageous to provide an intuitive and accurate way of moving a user interface object along a predefined path while maintaining the ability of the user to move the user interface object to a selected location on the predefined path.

The disclosed embodiments describe a system and method for moving user interface objects at varying speeds or through varying displacements using a press input (e.g., a contact on a touch screen or a touch sensitive surface), such that the extent of motion of the user interface object (e.g., speed and/or displacement of the user interface object) varies in accordance with (e.g., depends on) the intensity or pressure of the press input on a touch screen or touch sensitive surface, rather than on a physical displacement of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface. Accordingly, the disclosed embodiments reduce cognitive burden on the user associated with moving a physical contact on a touch screen or touch sensitive surface by eliminating the need for the user move the contact in order to move a user interface object on a display.

FIGS. 5A-5Y illustrate exemplary user interfaces for moving user interface objects at varying speeds or through varying displacements based on variable intensities of a press input, in accordance with some embodiments. The user interfaces in these figures are used to illustrate the processes described below, including the processes in FIGS. 6A-6D. FIGS. 5A-5Y include intensity diagrams that show changes in the current intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface relative to a plurality of intensity thresholds (e.g., “IT₀,” “IT₁,” “IT_(L),” and “IT_(D)”). In some embodiments, operations similar to those described below with reference to IT_(L) are performed with reference to a different intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”).

FIG. 5A illustrates user interface 14104 (e.g., a video in a video player application), with a moveable user interface object 14108 (e.g., a “handle” or “thumb” of a slider control for adjusting a playback position of video content in the video player that is constrained to a predefined path associated with the slider control), that is displayed on display 450. FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate moving user interface object 14108, in response to a press input (e.g., an increase in intensity of a contact detected on a touch-sensitive surface) detected on touch-sensitive surface 451, directly to a first location (e.g., the location of focus selector 14110) when the press input has an intensity that is above (e.g., greater than) a predefined activation threshold (e.g., an activation threshold that corresponds to a “mouse click” intensity threshold in other portions of the user interface, such as IT_(L)).

In FIG. 5A, at a time T0, prior to T1, no contact is present or detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 and focus selector 14110 is at a first location in user interface 14104. In FIG. 5B, at time T1, a contact (e.g., contact 14112 in FIG. 5B) is detected on the touch-sensitive surface 451 while focus selector 14110 is at the first location in user interface 14104. As shown in FIG. 5B, contact 14112 has an intensity that is above (e.g., greater than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)). In FIG. 5C, at a time shortly after or subsequent to T1 (e.g., a few milliseconds after T1 or some other time period that is short enough that the movement appears, to the user, to happen substantially instantaneously in response to increasing the intensity of the contact above the predefined activation threshold), when the contact has an intensity that is above the predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L), FIG. 5C), user interface object 14108 (e.g., the handle of the slider control) is moved directly to the first location (corresponding to the location of the focus selector 14110).

In other words, when the device detects a contact on the touch-sensitive surface and an increase in intensity of the contact (e.g., a press input) that is above the predefined activation threshold, the user interface object is moved directly to the location of the focus selector.

FIGS. 5D-5G illustrate, in response to the detected press input, moving the user interface object toward the first location in the user interface in accordance with (or based on) the intensity of the press input when the press input has an intensity that is below (e.g., lower than) the predefined activation threshold and when gradual-movement criteria are met (e.g., when the contact corresponding to the press input has an intensity above a movement-initiation intensity threshold).

In FIG. 5D, at a time T0, prior to T1, no contact is present or detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 and focus selector 14110 is at a first location in user interface 14104. In FIG. 5E, at time T1, a press input (e.g., an increase in intensity of contact 14114 in FIG. 5E) is detected on the touch-sensitive surface 451 while focus selector 14110 is at the first location in user interface 14104. As shown in FIG. 5E, contact 14114 has an intensity I′ that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and meets gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I′ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁). In FIG. 5F, at a time T2, after or subsequent to T1, when contact 14114 has an intensity I′ that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and meets gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I′ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁), user interface object 14108 (e.g., the handle of the slider control) is moved, from its preliminary location to an intermediate location in accordance with the intensity of the contact (e.g., at a speed S′ corresponding to the intensity I′ of contact 14114), toward the first location (corresponding to the location of the focus selector 14110). In FIG. 5G, at a time T3, after or subsequent to T2, when the contact 14114 continues to have an intensity I″ that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and continues to meet gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I′ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁), user interface object 14108 is moved, from its intermediate location (shown in FIG. 5F) to the first location (e.g., corresponding to the location of the focus selector 14110), in accordance with the intensity of contact 14114 (e.g., at a speed S′ corresponding to the intensity I′ of the contact).

In other words, when the device detects a contact on the touch-sensitive surface and an increase in intensity of the contact (e.g., a press input) that is below the predefined activation threshold but still meets gradual-movement criteria (e.g., if the contact has an intensity greater than a movement-initiation intensity threshold), the user interface object is moved toward the location of the focus selector in accordance with the intensity of the contact.

FIGS. 5H-5L illustrate, in response to the detected contact, moving the user interface object toward the first location in the user interface in accordance with (or based on) the intensity of the contact such that a speed at which the user interface object is moved corresponds to the intensity of the contact, when the contact has an intensity that is below (e.g., lower than) the predefined activation threshold and when gradual-movement criteria are met (e.g., when the press input has an intensity above a movement-initiation intensity threshold).

In FIG. 5H, at a time T0, prior to T1, no contact is present or detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 and focus selector 14110 is at a first location in user interface 14104. In FIG. 5I, at time T1, a contact (e.g., contact 14118 in FIG. 5I) is detected on the touch-sensitive surface 451 while focus selector 14110 is at the first location in user interface 14104. As shown in FIG. 5I, contact 14118 has an intensity I′ that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and meets gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I′ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁). In FIG. 5J, at a time T2, after T1, when the contact has an intensity I′ that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and meets gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I′ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁), user interface object 14108 (e.g., the handle of the slider control) is moved, from its preliminary location to a first intermediate location in accordance with the intensity of contact 14118 (e.g., at speed S′ corresponding to the intensity I′ of the contact), toward the first location (e.g., corresponding to the location of the focus selector 14110).

In FIG. 5K, contact 14118 has an intensity I″, above intensity I′ (described with reference to FIGS. 5I-5J), that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and meets gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I″ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁). For example, a user pressed down harder on touch-sensitive surface 451 at time T2. In FIG. 5L, at a time T3, after T2, when contact 14118 continues to have an intensity I″″ that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and continues to meet gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I″ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁), user interface object 14108 is moved, from its first intermediate location (shown in FIG. 5J) to a second intermediate location, in accordance with the intensity of contact 14118 (e.g., at a speed S″ corresponding to the intensity I″ of contact 14118). As shown in FIG. 5L, since intensity I″ is greater than intensity I′, the corresponding speed S″ with which user interface object 14108 is moved when contact has intensity I″ is greater than the speed S′ at which user interface object 14108 is moved when the contact has intensity I′. Although the intensity-to-speed mapping or correspondence shown in FIGS. 5K-5L is a linear function, in some embodiments, the intensity of the contact corresponding to the press input) is mapped to the speed of the user interface object as any monotonically increasing function (e.g., a quadratic function, an exponential function, a piece-wise linear function, and the like).

In other words, when the device detects a contact on the touch-sensitive surface and an increase in intensity of the contact (e.g., a press input) that is below the predefined activation threshold but still meets the gradual-movement criteria (e.g., if the contact has an intensity greater than a movement-initiation intensity threshold), the user interface object is moved toward the location of the focus selector in accordance with the intensity of the contact such that a speed at which the user interface object is moved corresponds to an intensity of the contact.

FIGS. 5M-5Q illustrate, moving the user interface object in response to two portions of a detected press input. FIGS. 5M-50 illustrate moving the user interface object toward the first location (e.g., the location of focus selector 14110) in the user interface in the first portion of the contact, in accordance with (or based on) the intensity of the contact, when the contact has an intensity that is below (e.g., lower than) the predefined activation threshold and when gradual-movement criteria are met (e.g., when the press input has an intensity above a movement-initiation intensity threshold). FIGS. 5P-5Q illustrate moving the user interface object in the second portion of the contact directly to the first location when the contact has an intensity that is above (e.g., greater than) a predefined activation threshold.

In the first portion of the press input, as shown in FIG. 5M, at a time T0 prior to T1, no contact is present or detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 and focus selector 14110 is at a first location in user interface 14104. In FIG. 5N, at time T1, a contact (e.g., contact 14122, FIG. 5N) is detected on the touch-sensitive surface 451 while focus selector 14110 is at the first location in user interface 14104. As shown in FIG. 5N, contact 14122 has an intensity I′ that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and meets gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I′ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁). In FIG. 5O, at a time T2, after T1, when the contact 14122 has an intensity I′ that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and meets gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I′ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁), user interface object 14108 (e.g., the handle of the slider control) is moved, from its preliminary location to an intermediate location in accordance with the intensity of contact 14122 (e.g., at a speed S′ corresponding to the intensity I′ of the contact), toward the first location (corresponding to the location of the focus selector 14110).

In the second portion of the press input, as shown in FIG. 5P, contact 14122 has an intensity that is above (e.g., greater than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)). In FIG. 5Q, at a time shortly after T2 (e.g., a few milliseconds after T2 or some other time period that is short enough that the movement appears, to the user, to happen substantially instantaneously in response to increasing the intensity of the contact above the predefined activation threshold), when contact 14122 has an intensity that is above the predefined activation threshold (e.g., above intensity threshold IT_(L) in FIG. 5Q), user interface object 14108 (e.g., the handle of the slider control) is moved directly to the first location (corresponding to the location of the focus selector 14110).

FIGS. 5R-5T illustrate, in response to the detected press input, moving the user interface object toward the first location in the user interface in accordance with (or based on) a change (e.g., increase) in intensity of the contact such that a displacement of (or distance moved by) the user interface object corresponds to the change (e.g., increase) in intensity of the contact, when the contact has an intensity that is below (e.g., lower than) the predefined activation threshold and when gradual-movement criteria are met (e.g., when the press input has an intensity above a movement-initiation intensity threshold).

In FIG. 5R, no contact is present or detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 and focus selector 14110 is at a first location in user interface 14104. In FIG. 5S, a contact (e.g., contact 14124 in FIG. 5S) is detected on the touch-sensitive surface 451 while focus selector 14110 is at the first location in user interface 14104. As shown in FIG. 5S, contact 14124 has an intensity I′ that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and meets gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I′ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁). As shown in FIG. 5S, when the contact has an intensity I′ that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and meets gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I′ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁), user interface object 14108 (e.g., the handle of the slider control) is moved, from its preliminary location to a first intermediate location in accordance with the intensity of contact 14124 (e.g., by a distance or displacement D1 corresponding to the intensity I′ of contact 14124), toward the first location (e.g., corresponding to the location of the focus selector 14110).

In FIG. 5T, contact 14124 has an intensity I″, above intensity I′ (described with reference to FIG. 5S), that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and meets gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I″ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁). As shown in FIG. 5T, user interface object 14108 is moved, from its first intermediate location (shown in FIG. 5S) to a second intermediate location, in accordance with the change in intensity of contact 14124 (e.g., by a distance or displacement D2 corresponding to the change in intensity I″-I′ of contact 14124). As a result, when the intensity of the contact increases from a first intensity (e.g., I′) to a second intensity (e.g., I″), the distance (e.g., D2) by which the user interface object travels toward the first location corresponds to a difference between the first and the second intensity (e.g., D2 corresponds to the difference in intensity (I″-I′)).

In other words, when the device detects a contact on the touch-sensitive surface and an increase in intensity of the contact (e.g., a press input) that is below the predefined activation threshold but still meets the gradual-movement criteria (e.g., if the contact has an intensity greater than a movement-initiation intensity threshold), the user interface object is moved toward the location of the focus selector in accordance with the intensity of the contact such that the displacement of (or the distance moved by) the user interface object corresponds to an increase in intensity of the contact. Specifically, when the user changes the intensity of the contact from a first intensity to a second intensity, the distance by which the user interface object travels toward the first location corresponds to a difference between the first and the second intensity.

FIGS. 5U-5V illustrate moving user interface object 14108 in response to a press input (e.g., an increase in intensity of a contact detected on a touch-sensitive surface), for example contact 14132 detected on touch-sensitive display 112 directly to a first location of a focus selector (e.g., the location of contact 14132 on the touch-sensitive display 112), when the press input has an intensity that is above (e.g., greater than) a predefined activation threshold.

In FIG. 5U, at time T1, a contact (e.g., contact 14132 in FIG. 5U) is detected on the touch-sensitive display 112 while the focus selector (corresponding to contact 14132) is at the first location in user interface 14104. As shown in FIG. 5U, contact 14132 has an intensity that is above (e.g., greater than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)). In FIG. 5V, at a time shortly after T1 (e.g., a few milliseconds after T1 or some other time period that is short enough that the movement appears, to the user, to happen substantially instantaneously in response to increasing the intensity of the contact above the predefined activation threshold), when contact 14132 has an intensity that is above the predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L), FIG. 5V), user interface object 14108 (e.g., the handle of the slider control) is moved directly to the first location corresponding to the location of the focus selector (e.g., contact 14132).

FIGS. 5W-5Y illustrate, in response to a detected press input on touch-sensitive display 112, moving the user interface object toward the first location corresponding to the location of a focus selector (e.g., contact 14134) in the user interface in accordance with (or based on) the intensity of the contact, when the contact has an intensity that is below (e.g., lower than) the predefined activation threshold and when gradual-movement criteria are met (e.g., when the contact or press input has an intensity above a movement-initiation intensity threshold).

In FIG. 5W, at time T1, a contact (e.g., contact 14134 in FIG. 5W) is detected on the touch-sensitive display 112 while a focus selector (e.g., corresponding to contact 14134) is at the first location in user interface 14104. As shown in FIG. 5W, contact 14134 has an intensity I′ that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and meets gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I′ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁). In FIG. 5X, at a time T2, after T1, when the contact has an intensity I′ that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and meets gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I′ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁), user interface object 14108 (e.g., the handle of the slider control) is moved, from its preliminary location to an intermediate location in accordance with the intensity of the contact (e.g., at a speed S′ corresponding to the intensity I′ of the contact), toward the first location (corresponding to the location of the focus selector associated with contact 14134). In FIG. 5X, at a time T3 after T2 contact 14134 continues to have an intensity I′ that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and continues to meet gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I′ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁), and so user interface object 14108 is moved, from its intermediate location (shown in FIG. 5W) to the first location (e.g., corresponding to the location of the focus selector associated with contact 14134), in accordance with the intensity of the contact (e.g., at a speed S′ corresponding to the intensity I′ of the contact).

FIGS. 6A-6D are flow diagrams illustrating a method 14200 of moving user interface objects at varying speeds or through varying displacements based on variable intensities of a press input, in accordance with some embodiments. The method 14200 is performed at an electronic device (e.g., device 300, FIG. 3, or portable multifunction device 100, FIG. 1A) with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the display is a touch screen display and the touch-sensitive surface is on the display. In some embodiments, the display is separate from the touch-sensitive surface. Some operations in method 14200 are, optionally, combined and/or the order of some operations is, optionally, changed.

As described below, the method 14200 provides an intuitive way to move user interface objects at varying speeds or through varying displacements based on variable intensities of a press input. The method reduces the cognitive burden on a user when moving user interface objects, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated electronic devices, enabling a user to move user interface objects faster and more efficiently conserves power and increases the time between battery charges.

The device displays (14202) a user interface object on the display. In some embodiments, the user interface object is displayed (14204) at a preliminary location on the display. In some embodiments, the user interface object is (14206) a handle of a slider control that is constrained to a predefined path associated with the slider control. For example, the user interface object is a thumb of a volume or content slider/scrubber. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, user interface object 14108 (e.g., a handle of a slider control) is displayed at a preliminary location in user interface 14104 (e.g., a video display). In some embodiments, the user interface object is not constrained to a predefined path. For example, the user interface object is an icon on a desktop of a user that is currently selected, and when the user increases the intensity of a contact while a focus selector is at the first location on the display the icon moves toward the first location (e.g., in straight line). As another example, the user interface object is an image or a graphical object in a document editing application and the device moves the user interface object towards the focus selector in response to detecting an increase in intensity of the contact.

The device detects (14208) a press input on the touch-sensitive surface while a focus selector is at a first location in a user interface. In response to (14210) detecting the press input on the touch-sensitive surface, the device performs one or more of the operations 14212-14264.

The device determines (14212) whether the press input has an intensity above a predefined activation threshold. In accordance with a determination that the press input has an intensity above (14214) a predefined activation threshold, the device moves (14216) the user interface object directly to the first location in the user interface. For example, as explained above with reference to FIGS. 5A-5C, in accordance with a determination that the press input (e.g., a press input corresponding to contact 14112 on touch-sensitive surface 451) has an intensity above predefined activation threshold (e.g., above intensity threshold IT_(L)), the device moves user interface object 14108 directly to the first location (corresponding to the location of the focus selector, cursor 14110) in user interface 14104. As another example, as explained with reference to FIGS. 5U-5V, in accordance with a determination that the press input (e.g., a press input corresponding to contact 14132 on touch-sensitive display 112) has an intensity above predefined activation threshold (e.g., above intensity threshold IT_(L)), the device moves user interface object 14108 directly to the first location (corresponding to the location of contact 14132 on touch-sensitive display 112) in user interface 14104.

In some embodiments, in conjunction with moving the user interface object to the first location, the device generates (14218) a tactile output corresponding to movement of the first user interface object to the first location. For example, the device generates a predefined tactile output, that corresponds to a “click” tactile sensation for the user, when the intensity of the contact reaches (or exceeds) the predefined activation threshold to indicate to the user that the user interface object has been moved all the way to the first location. This tactile feedback preserves an expected behavior in many situations where a user operating a track pad with a physical actuator switch that controls object selection would expect to feel a “click” of the physical actuator switch in response to pressing down on the track pad with an intensity greater than an activation intensity of the physical actuator switch.

In accordance with a determination that the press input has an intensity below (14220) the predefined activation threshold, the device determines (14222) whether the press input meets gradual-movement criteria. In some embodiments, the press input meets (14224) the gradual-movement criteria when the press input has an intensity above a movement-initiation intensity threshold. For example, for press inputs below the movement-initiation threshold there is no movement of the user interface object, so that the user does not accidentally move the user interface object. For example, as explained above with reference to FIGS. 5D-5G, the gradual-movement criteria are met when the press input (or contact) has an intensity (e.g., intensity I′, FIGS. 5E-5G) above a movement-initiation intensity threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT₁, FIGS. 5E-5G). An advantage of waiting until a press input meets gradual-movement criteria before moving the user interface object is that, for press inputs below the movement-initiation threshold there is no movement of the user interface object, so that the user does not accidentally move the user interface object.

In some embodiments, the press input meets (14226) the gradual-movement criteria when the press input has been continuously detected with an intensity above a movement-initiation intensity threshold for longer than a movement-initiation time threshold. For example, unless the press input has an intensity above the movement-initiation intensity threshold for more than a predefined period of time there is no movement of the user interface object, so that the user does not accidentally move the user interface object. However, in some situations, if the press input is above the predefined activation threshold, the user interface object sill moves directly to the first location (e.g., so that there is no unexpected gradual movement of the user interface object when the user quickly places the focus selector in the first location and presses on the touch-sensitive surface). In some embodiments, the press input meets (14228) the gradual-movement criteria when the press input has been continuously detected for longer than a movement-initiation time threshold while a focus selector is at a location corresponding to a predefined path associated with the user interface object.

After the device determines (14222) whether the press input meets gradual-movement criteria, In accordance with a determination that the press input does not (14230) meet gradual-movement criteria, the device forgoes (14232) moving the user interface object. In contrast, in accordance with a determination that the press input does (14234) meet gradual-movement criteria, the device moves (14236) the user interface object toward the first location in the user interface in accordance with the intensity of the press input, as described with respect to operations 14240-14254. In some embodiments, moving the user interface object toward the first location in the user interface in accordance with the intensity of the press input includes gradually moving the user interface object on the display at a speed or rate determined in accordance with the intensity or rate of change of intensity of the press input. For example, as explained above with reference to FIGS. 5D-5G, when press input (e.g., contact 14114 on touch-sensitive surface 451) has an intensity (e.g., intensity I′) below the predefined activation threshold (e.g., below intensity threshold IT_(L)), the device moves user interface object 14108 gradually toward the first location (corresponding to the location of the focus selector 14110) in user interface 14104 at a speed or rate determined in accordance with the intensity (I′) or rate of change of intensity of contact 14114. However, in this example, if the intensity of contact 14114 was below IT₁, at time T1, user interface object 14108 would not be moved until the intensity of contact 14114 increased above IT₁. As another example, as explained above with reference to FIGS. 5W-5Y, when press input (e.g., contact 14134 on touch-sensitive display 112) has an intensity (e.g., intensity I′) below the predefined activation threshold (e.g., below intensity threshold IT_(L)), the device moves user interface object 14108 gradually toward the first location (corresponding to the location of the focus selector associated with contact 14134 on touch-sensitive display 112) in user interface 14104 at a speed or rate determined in accordance with the intensity (e.g., I′) or rate of change of intensity of contact 14134. However, in this example, if the intensity of contact 14134 was below IT₁, at time T1, user interface object 14108 would not be moved until the intensity of contact 14134 increased above IT₁.

In some embodiments, the device determines (14240) that the press input has a respective intensity. In some embodiments, the device moves (14242) the user interface object at a speed corresponding to the respective intensity. For example, as explained with reference to FIGS. 5H-5L, when press input (e.g., contact 14114) has an intensity (e.g., intensity I′, FIGS. 5I-5J) below the predefined activation threshold (e.g., below intensity threshold IT_(L)), the device moves user interface object 14108 toward the first location (corresponding to the location of the focus selector 14110) in user interface 14104 at a corresponding speed (e.g., speed S′, FIG. 5J). On the other hand, when press input (e.g., contact 14114) has a different intensity (e.g., intensity I″, FIGS. 5K-5L), below the predefined activation threshold (e.g., below intensity threshold IT_(L)), the device moves user interface object 14108 toward the first location (corresponding to the location of the focus selector 14110) in user interface 14104 at a different speed (e.g., speed S″, FIG. 5L).

In some embodiments, particular contact intensity levels are mapped to particular user interface object movement speeds. For example, as shown in FIG. 5K, intensity level I′ is mapped to speed S′ and intensity level I″ is mapped to speed S″ based, for example, on a linear intensity-to-speed mapping. As previously noted with reference to FIGS. 5K-5L, although the intensity-to-speed mapping or correspondence shown in FIGS. 5K-5L is a linear function, the intensity of a contact corresponding to the press input could, alternatively, be mapped to the speed of the user interface object as any monotonically increasing function (e.g., a quadratic function, an exponential function, a piece-wise linear function, and the like).

In some embodiments, the device detects (14244) an increase in intensity of the press input from a first intensity to a second intensity. In some embodiments, the device moves (14246) the user interface object a distance toward the first location corresponding to the difference between the first intensity and the second intensity. For example, as explained above with reference to FIGS. 5R-5T, when the intensity of the press input that includes contact 14124 changes (e.g., increases) from a first intensity (e.g., I′, FIG. 5S) to a second intensity (e.g., I″, FIG. 5T), the displacement or distance (e.g., D2, FIG. 5T) by which the user interface object travels toward the first location corresponds to a difference between the first and the second intensity (e.g., D2 corresponds to the difference in intensity (I″-I′)).

In some embodiments, the device detects (14248) an increase in intensity of the press input at an intensity-increase rate. In some embodiments, the device moves (14250) the user interface object at a speed corresponding to the intensity-increase rate.

In some embodiments, the device moves (14252) the user interface object to the first location (e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 5C, 5G. 5Q, 5V, and 5Y). In some embodiments, in conjunction with moving the user interface object to the first location, the device generates (14254) a tactile output corresponding to movement of the first user interface object to the first location. For example, the device generates a predefined tactile output “click” at the predefined activation threshold to indicate to the user that the user interface object has been moved all the way to the first location. This tactile feedback preserves an expected behavior in many situations where a user expects to be able to “click” a button to move an icon to a predefined location corresponding to the focus selector.

In some embodiments, the press input includes (14256) a first portion followed by a second portion. In some embodiments, during the first portion of the press input, the press input has (14258) a maximum intensity below the predefined activation threshold and meets the gradual-movement criteria. In such embodiments, in response to detecting the first portion of the press input, the device gradually moves (14260) the user interface object to an intermediate location on the display that is between the preliminary location and the first location on the display in accordance with the intensity of the press input during the first portion of the press input. In some embodiments, during the first portion of the press input, the device gradually moves the user interface object on the display at a speed/rate determined in accordance with the intensity or rate of change of intensity of the press input during the first portion of the press input. For example, as explained above with reference to FIGS. 5M-50, in the first portion of the press input including contact 14122, when contact 14122 has an intensity I′ (FIG. 5N) that is below (e.g., lower than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L)) and meets gradual-movement criteria (e.g., intensity I′ is greater than or above a movement-initiation intensity threshold IT₁), user interface object 14108 (e.g., the handle of the slider control) is moved, from its preliminary location (e.g., 14108 in FIG. 5O) to an intermediate location (e.g., 14108 in FIG. 5P) in accordance with the intensity of contact 14122 (e.g., at a speed S′ corresponding to the intensity I′ of the contact 14122, FIG. 5O), toward the first location (corresponding to the location of the focus selector 14110).

Further, in such embodiments, during the second portion of the press input, the press input has (14262) an intensity above the predefined activation threshold. In such embodiments, in response to detecting the second portion of the press input, the device moves (14264) the user interface object directly to the first location in the user interface. For example, the user can decide at any time to press down (e.g., to increase the intensity of the contact corresponding to the press input to an intensity above the predefined activation threshold) and, in response, the device will move the user interface object directly to the first location. For example, as explained above with reference to FIGS. 5P-5Q, in the second portion of the press input (e.g., contact 14122), when contact 14122 has an intensity that is above (e.g., greater than) predefined activation threshold (e.g., intensity threshold IT_(L), FIG. 5Q), user interface object 14108 (e.g., the handle of the slider control) is moved directly to the first location (e.g., 14108 in FIG. 5Q, corresponding to the location of the focus selector 14110).

It should be understood that the particular order in which the operations in FIGS. 6A-6D have been described is merely exemplary and is not intended to indicate that the described order is the only order in which the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize various ways to reorder the operations described herein. Additionally, it should be noted that details of other processes described herein with respect to other methods described herein (e.g., those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments) are also applicable in an analogous manner to method 14200 described above with respect to FIGS. 6A-6D. For example, the contacts, gestures, user interface objects, tactile sensations, intensity thresholds, focus selectors described above with reference to method 14200 optionally have one or more of the characteristics of the contacts, gestures, user interface objects, tactile sensations, intensity thresholds, focus selectors described herein with reference to other methods described herein (e.g., those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments). For brevity, these details are not repeated here.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 7 shows a functional block diagram of an electronic device 14300 configured in accordance with the principles of the various described embodiments. The functional blocks of the device are, optionally, implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of the various described embodiments. It is understood by persons of skill in the art that the functional blocks described in FIG. 7 are, optionally, combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of the various described embodiments. Therefore, the description herein optionally supports any possible combination or separation or further definition of the functional blocks described herein.

As shown in FIG. 7, an electronic device 14300 includes a display unit 14302 configured to display a user interface object; a touch-sensitive surface unit 14304 configured to receive a press input on the touch-sensitive surface unit 14304; one or more sensor unit(s) 14305 configured to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface unit 14304; and a processing unit 14306 coupled to the display unit 14302, the touch-sensitive surface unit 14304, and the one or more sensor unit(s) 14305. In some embodiments, the processing unit 14306 includes a moving unit 14308, a generating unit 14310, and a display enabling unit 14314.

The processing unit 14306 is configured to: enable display of a user interface object on the display unit 14302 (e.g., with a display enabling unit 14314), detect a press input on the touch-sensitive surface unit 14304 while a focus selector is at a first location in a user interface. In response to detecting the press input on the touch-sensitive surface unit 14304, processing unit 14306 is configured to: in accordance with a determination that the press input has an intensity above a predefined activation threshold, move the user interface object directly to the first location in the user interface (e.g., with moving unit 14308); and in accordance with a determination that the press input has an intensity below the predefined activation threshold and meets gradual-movement criteria, move the user interface object toward the first location in the user interface in accordance with the intensity of the press input (e.g., with moving unit 14308).

In some embodiments, moving the user interface object toward the first location in the user interface in accordance with the intensity of the press input includes: determining that the press input has a respective intensity; and moving the user interface object at a speed corresponding to the respective intensity.

In some embodiments, moving the user interface object toward the first location in the user interface in accordance with the intensity of the press input includes: detecting an increase in intensity of the press input from a first intensity to a second intensity; and moving the user interface object a distance toward the first location corresponding to the difference between the first intensity and the second intensity.

In some embodiments, moving the user interface object toward the first location in the user interface in accordance with the intensity of the press input includes: detecting an increase in intensity of the press input at an intensity-increase rate; and moving the user interface object at a speed corresponding to the intensity-increase rate.

In some embodiments, the press input meets the gradual-movement criteria when the press input has an intensity above a movement-initiation intensity threshold.

In some embodiments, the press input meets the gradual-movement criteria when the press input has been continuously detected with an intensity above a movement-initiation intensity threshold for longer than a movement-initiation time threshold.

In some embodiments, the press input meets the gradual-movement criteria when the press input has been continuously detected for longer than a movement-initiation time threshold while a focus selector is at a location corresponding to a predefined path associated with the user interface object.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 14306 is configured to: move the user interface object to the first location (e.g., with moving unit 14308); and in conjunction with moving the user interface object to the first location, generate a tactile output corresponding to movement of the first user interface object to the first location (e.g., with generating unit 14310).

In some embodiments, the user interface object is a handle of a slider control that is constrained to a predefined path associated with the slider control.

In some embodiments, prior to detecting the press input, the user interface object is displayed at a preliminary location on the display unit 14302; the press input includes a first portion followed by a second portion; during the first portion of the press input, the press input has a maximum intensity below the predefined activation threshold and meets the gradual-movement criteria; during the second portion of the press input, the press input has an intensity above the predefined activation threshold. In some embodiments, the processing unit 14306 is configured to: in response to detecting the first portion of the press input, gradually move the user interface object to an intermediate location on the display unit 14302 that is between the preliminary location and the first location on the display unit 14302 in accordance with the intensity of the press input during the first portion of the press input (e.g., with moving unit 14308); and in response to detecting the second portion of the press input, move the user interface object directly to the first location in the user interface (e.g., with moving unit 14308).

The operations in the information processing methods described above are, optionally implemented by running one or more functional modules in information processing apparatus such as general purpose processors (e.g., as described above with respect to FIGS. 1A and 3) or application specific chips.

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 6A-6D are, optionally, implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B or FIG. 7. For example, display operation 14202, detection operation 14208, and determination operations 14212 and 14222 are, optionally, implemented by event sorter 170, event recognizer 180, and event handler 190. Event monitor 171 in event sorter 170 detects a contact on touch-sensitive display 112, and event dispatcher module 174 delivers the event information to application 136-1. A respective event recognizer 180 of application 136-1 compares the event information to respective event definitions 186, and determines whether a first contact at a first location on the touch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefined event or sub-event, such as selection of an object on a user interface. When a respective predefined event or sub-event is detected, event recognizer 180 activates an event handler 190 associated with the detection of the event or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionally utilizes or calls data updater 176 or object updater 177 to update the application internal state 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190 accesses a respective GUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by the application. Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinary skill in the art how other processes can be implemented based on the components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

Providing an Indication to a User on How a Control Responds to Inputs

Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces that include various types of controls and it is often preferable to have different control types respond to inputs in different manners. When different control types respond to inputs in different manners then there is a need to provide an indication to a user on how a particular control type will respond to inputs. For example, appearance options for a display optionally include controls for brightness, contrast, warmth, and saturation. In this example, the controls are, optionally, one of two types: a first type of control that responds to inputs by incrementally adjusting a corresponding parameter in accordance with intensity of the input; and a second type of control that responds to inputs by performing a discrete operation in response to reaching a predefined intensity threshold. Therefore, in this example, there is a need to distinguish between the first control type and the second control type in order for the user to identify which control is of which control type. The embodiments described below provide a fast, efficient, and convenient way of providing an indication to a user on how a control responds to inputs by changing an appearance of a control to a three dimensional appearance so as to indicate that the control responds to inputs by incrementally adjusting a corresponding parameter rather than by performing a discreet operation. These methods reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface.

FIGS. 8A-8I illustrate exemplary user interfaces for providing an indication to a user on how a control responds to inputs in accordance with some embodiments. The user interfaces in these figures are used to illustrate the processes described below, including the processes described below with reference to FIGS. 9A-9E. FIGS. 8A-8I include intensity diagrams that show the current intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface relative to a plurality of intensity thresholds including a predefined intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(L)”). In some embodiments, operations similar to those described below with reference to “IT_(L)” are performed with reference to a different intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”).

In some embodiments, the device is an electronic device with a separate display (e.g., display 450) and a separate touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touch-sensitive surface 451). In some embodiments, the device is portable multifunction device 100, the display is touch-sensitive display system 112, and the touch-sensitive surface includes tactile output generators 167 on the display (FIG. 1A). For convenience of explanation, the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 8A-8I and FIG. 9A-9D will be discussed with reference to display 450 and a separate touch-sensitive surface 451, however analogous operations are, optionally, performed on a device with a touch-sensitive display system 112 in response to detecting the contacts described in FIGS. 8A-8I on the touch-sensitive display system 112 while displaying the user interfaces shown in FIGS. 8A-8I on the touch-sensitive display system 112; in such embodiments, the focus selector is, optionally: a respective contact, a representative point corresponding to a contact (e.g., a centroid of a respective contact or a point associated with a respective contact), or a centroid of two or more contacts detected on the touch-sensitive display system 112, in place of cursor 15906.

FIG. 8A illustrates an example of a user interface that includes various controls of different types. User interface 15900 is displayed on display 450 of a device (e.g., device 300) and is responsive to contacts (e.g., a finger contact) on touch-sensitive surface 451. User interface 15900 includes controls 15902 of a first type (e.g., controls for adjusting graphical properties of an image 15907 within ranges of values), including control 15902-1 having appearance 15901-a, and control 15903 of a second type (e.g., a control for deciding whether to keep or cancel adjustments to graphical properties of the image 15907). In accordance with some embodiments, user interface 15900 also includes current value displays 15910 for controls 15902. FIG. 8A further illustrates contact 15904 at position 15904-a on touch-sensitive surface 451 and a displayed representation of focus selector (e.g., cursor 15906), at position 15906-a, corresponding to contact 15904.

FIGS. 8B-8C illustrate an example of changing an appearance of a respective control from a two-dimensional appearance to a three-dimensional appearance. In this example, contact 15904 is detected at position 15904-a, as shown in FIG. 8A. In FIG. 8B, contact 15904 moves 15908 to position 15904-b. Movement of cursor 15906 corresponds to movement of contact 15904 and therefore cursor 15906 moves to position 15906-b over control 15902-1. The device changes the appearance of control 15902-1 from two-dimensional appearance 15901-a in FIG. 8B to three-dimensional appearance 15901-b in FIG. 8C.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIGS. 8D-8E illustrate an example of a control changing its three-dimensional appearance in accordance with an increase in intensity of a contact. In this example, contact 15904 at position 15904-b increases in intensity from an intensity below a first intensity threshold (e.g., below IT_(L)) in FIG. 8C to an intensity above the first intensity threshold (e.g., above IT_(L)) in FIG. 8D. In accordance with the increase in intensity, the device changes the three-dimensional appearance of control 15902-1 from 15901-b FIG. 8C to 15901-c in FIG. 8D. In FIG. 8E, intensity of contact 15904 further increases to an intensity above a second intensity threshold (e.g., above ITS) and the device changes the three-dimensional appearance of control 15902-1 changes from 15901-c FIG. 8D to 15901-d in FIG. 8E. In some embodiments, in conjunction with changing the appearance of control 15902-1, the device changes a value of a parameter associated with the control (e.g., brightness of image 15907) and, optionally, changes the appearance of an image 15907 associated with control 15902-1.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 8F illustrates an example of a control having first region associated with increasing a parameter and a second region associated with decreasing the parameter and displaying an animation so that the first region appears to rotate into the display and the second region appears to rotate out of the display. In FIG. 8F, contact 15905 is detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 and a focus selector (e.g., cursor 15906), corresponding to contact 15905, is located over region 15913-1 of control 15902-1 (e.g., a region associated with increasing a value of a parameter associated with the control). In accordance with the position of the focus selector (e.g., cursor 15906) and intensity of contact 15905, region 15913-1 appears to rotate into display 450 and region 15913-2 appears to rotate out of display 450. In contrast, in a situation where the focus selector is placed over a different region 15913-2 of the control (e.g., a region associated with decreasing a value of the parameter associated with the control), in accordance with the position of cursor 15906 and intensity of contact 15905, region 15913-2 would appear to rotate into display 450 and region 15913-1 would appear to rotate out of display 450.

FIGS. 8G-8I illustrate an example of a performing a discrete operation in response to a contact reaching a predefined intensity threshold. In this example, contact 15916 is detected at position 15916-a. In FIG. 8H, contact 15916 moves 15918 to position 15916-b. Movement of cursor 15906 corresponds to movement of contact 15916 and therefore cursor 15906 moves over control 15903. The appearance of control 15903 does not change from a two-dimensional appearance. In this example, contact 15916 at position 15916-b increases in intensity from an intensity below a respective predefined intensity threshold (e.g., below IT_(L)) in FIG. 8H to an intensity above the respective predefined intensity threshold (e.g., above IT_(L)) in FIG. 8I. In accordance with the increase in intensity of contact 15916 above IT_(L), in this example, the device cancels the changes in the brightness of image 15907 and, as shown in FIG. 8I, where the brightness adjustment has returned to the same value that it had in FIG. 8A (e.g., “0”).

FIGS. 9A-9E are flow diagrams illustrating a method 16000 of providing an indication to a user on how a control responds to inputs in accordance with some embodiments. Method 16000 is performed at an electronic device (e.g., device 300, FIG. 3, or portable multifunction device 100, FIG. 1A) with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the display is a touch screen display and the touch-sensitive surface is on the display. In some embodiments, the display is separate from the touch-sensitive surface. Some operations in method 16000 are, optionally, combined and/or the order of some operations is, optionally, changed.

As described below, the method 16000 provides an intuitive way to provide an indication to a user on how a control responds to inputs. The method reduces the cognitive burden on a user when interacting with a control, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated electronic devices, enabling a user to interact with a control faster and more efficiently conserves power and increases the time between battery charges.

The device displays (16002) a plurality of controls for controlling operations of the device. The plurality of controls include (16004) one or more controls of a first type of control (e.g., incremental controls) that respond to inputs by incrementally adjusting a corresponding parameter in accordance with intensity of the inputs and one or more controls of a second type of control (e.g., discrete controls) that respond to inputs that reach a predefined intensity threshold by performing a corresponding discrete operation. When a focus selector is remote from the plurality of controls, the plurality of controls have (16006) a two-dimensional appearance. In some circumstances, incrementally adjusting a corresponding parameter includes adjusting the corresponding parameter through three or more different values of the corresponding parameter. In these circumstances, incrementally adjusting the corresponding parameter is not a selection of a binary (e.g., “on/off”) state. FIG. 8A, for example, shows controls 15902 of a first type (e.g., controls for adjusting graphical properties of an image 15907 within ranges of values) and control 15903 of a second type (e.g., a control for deciding whether to keep or cancel adjustments to graphical properties of the image 15907), displayed in graphical user interface 15900. FIG. 8A further shows cursor 15906 at position remote from controls 15902 and control 15903. A control for controlling an operation on the device can be represented in the user interface in any of a number of different ways. In some embodiments, a control is represented in the user interface by an icon. In some embodiments, a control is represented in the user interface by selectable text (e.g., a hyperlink or menu item). In some embodiments a control is represented in the user interface by an image or a preview of content. In some embodiments a control is represented by a dynamic user interface object such as a virtual slider or knob.

While displaying the plurality of controls, the device detects (16008) a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to movement of a focus selector over a respective control having a two-dimensional appearance. For example, FIGS. 8A-8B shows contact 15904 initially at position 15904-a and movement 15908 of contact 15904 to position 15904-b on touch-sensitive surface 451.

In response to detecting the gesture (16010), in accordance with a determination that the respective control is a control of the second type (e.g., a discrete control), the device maintains (16012) the two-dimensional appearance of the respective control. For example, in FIGS. 8G-8I contact 15916 moves 15918 from position 15916-a to position 15916-b and control 15903 maintains its two-dimensional appearance.

In response to detecting the gesture (16010), in accordance with a determination that the respective control is a control of the first type (e.g., an incremental control), the device changes (16014) the appearance of the respective control to have a three-dimensional appearance. For example, in FIGS. 8A-8C contact 15904 moves 15908 from position 15904-a to position 15904-b and appearance 15901 of control 15902-1 changes from two-dimensional appearance 15901-a in FIG. 8B to three-dimensional appearance 15901-b in FIG. 8C.

In some embodiments, the respective control is (16016) a control of the first type (e.g., an incremental control), detecting the gesture includes detecting an increase in intensity of a contact while the focus selector is over the respective control, and after changing the appearance of the respective control to have a three-dimensional appearance, the device displays (16018) an animation of the respective control changing its three-dimensional appearance in accordance with the increase in intensity of the contact. For example, FIGS. 8C-8E show cursor 15906 at a position over control 15902-1 and the intensity of contact 15904 increasing from the intensity of contact 15904 in FIG. 8C to the intensity of contact 15904 in FIG. 8D to the intensity of contact 15904 in FIG. 8E. FIGS. 8C-8E further illustrate appearance 15901 of control 15902-1 changing from appearance 15901-b in FIG. 8C to appearance 15901-c in FIG. 8D then to appearance 15901-d in FIG. 8E.

In some embodiments, the respective control is (16020) a control of the first type (e.g., an incremental control). The three-dimensional appearance of the respective control corresponds to a three-dimensional rocker switch with an axis of rotation that is parallel to the display. For example, in some embodiments, the axis of rotation is parallel to a plane or surface of the display. In some of these embodiments, detecting the gesture includes detecting an increase (16022) in intensity of a contact while the focus selector is over the respective control, the device adjusts (16024) a parameter controlled by the respective control, and the device displays (16026) an animation of the respective control rotating around the axis of rotation so that at least a portion of the respective control appears to rotate into or out of the display. For example, FIGS. 8C-8E illustrate a focus selector (e.g., cursor 15906) at position 15906-b over control 15902-1 and the intensity of contact 15904 increasing from the intensity of contact 15904 in FIG. 8C to the intensity of contact 15904 in FIG. 8D to the intensity of contact 15904 in FIG. 8E. FIGS. 8C-8E further illustrate appearance 15901 of control 15902-1 changing from appearance 15901-b in FIG. 8C to appearance 15901-c in FIG. 8D then to appearance 15901-d in FIG. 8E. FIGS. 8D-8E also show current value display 15910-1 changing corresponding to adjustments of a value of the brightness parameter.

In some embodiments, the respective control adjusts (16028) a parameter (e.g., a parameter of the device such as screen brightness or screen volume, or a parameter of an application running on the device such as contrast or saturation of an image displayed in the application). The respective control has a first region associated with increasing the parameter. The respective control has a second region, distinct from the first region, associated with decreasing the parameter. In response to detecting (16030) an input corresponding to activation of the first region of the respective control (e.g., detecting a press input of a contact while the focus selector is on the first region of a button, or detecting a press input while a contact is on a portion of the touch-sensitive surface corresponding to the first region of the button, or detecting a press input of a contact while the contact is on a portion of the touch-sensitive surface associated with the first region of the button), the device displays (16032) an animation so that the first region appears to rotate into the display (e.g., into the z-plane of the display) and the second region appears to rotate out of the display (e.g., out of the z-plane of the display). In response to detecting (16034) an input corresponding to activation of the second region of the respective control, (e.g., detecting a press input of a contact while the focus selector is on the second region of a button, or detecting a press input while a contact is on a portion of the touch-sensitive surface corresponding to the second region of the button, or detecting a press input of a contact while the contact is on a portion of the touch-sensitive surface associated with the second region of the button), the device displays (16036) an animation so that the second region appears to rotate into the display (e.g., into the z-plane of the display) and the first region appears to rotate out of the display (e.g., out of the z-plane of the display). For example, FIG. 8F shows control 15902-1 having first region 15913-1 and second region 15913-2. FIG. 8F also shows cursor 15906 over first region 15913-1 that is associated with increasing a value of a brightness parameter associated with control 15902-1 and contact 15905 detected on touch-sensitive surface 451. FIG. 8F further illustrates first region 15913-1 appearing to rotate into display 450, as shown by directional arrow 15915-1, and second region 15913-2 appearing to rotate out of display 450, as shown by directional arrow 15915-2.

In some embodiments, the respective control adjusts (16038) a parameter (e.g., a parameter of the device such as screen brightness or screen volume, or a parameter of an application running on the device such as contrast or saturation of an image displayed in the application), the respective control has a plurality of activation states. In some of these embodiments, the parameter has a plurality of values, including one or more activation-state values that are associated with corresponding activation states of the respective control and one or more intermediate values that correspond to values of the parameter in between the activation-state values, and the gesture includes a contact that corresponds to the focus selector. In some of these embodiments, while the focus selector is over the respective control, the device detects (16040) an increase in intensity of the contact. In response to detecting the increase in intensity of the contact (16042), the device changes (16044) a current value of the parameter from a first activation-state value to a second activation-state value, where changing the current value of the parameter includes transitioning the current value of the parameter through one or more intermediate values between the first activation-state value and the second activation-state value. In some embodiments, the device transitions through the intermediate values in response to a plurality of discrete inputs that correspond to changing the current value of the parameter (e.g., a plurality of quick press inputs while the focus selector is on one side of the control). In some embodiments, the device transitions through the intermediate values in accordance with a duration of a continuous input (e.g., a long press input while the focus selector is on one side of the control). FIGS. 8C-8E, for example, illustrate cursor 15906 at position 15906-b over control 15902-1 and the intensity of contact 15904 increasing from the intensity of contact 15904 in FIG. 8C (e.g., an intensity below IT_(L)) to the intensity of contact 15904 in FIG. 8D (e.g., an intensity above IT_(L) and below IT_(D)) to the intensity of contact 15904 in FIG. 8E (e.g., an intensity above IT_(D)). FIGS. 8C-8E further illustrate current value display 15910-1 changing from 0 in FIG. 8C to 10 in FIG. 8D to 100 in FIG. 8E, corresponding to adjustments of a value of the brightness parameter. In accordance with these embodiments, in this example, value 0 in FIG. 8C is a first activation-state value, value 10 in FIG. 8D is a second activation-state value, and value 100 in FIG. 8E is a third activation-state value. An example of intermediate values in accordance with these embodiments, are values between value 0 in FIG. 8C and value 10 in FIG. 8D (e.g., 1, 2, 3, . . . , 9).

It should be understood that the particular order in which the operations in FIGS. 9A-9E have been described is merely exemplary and is not intended to indicate that the described order is the only order in which the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize various ways to reorder the operations described herein. Additionally, it should be noted that details of other processes described herein with respect to other methods described herein (e.g., those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments) are also applicable in an analogous manner to method 16000 described above with respect to FIGS. 9A-9E. For example, the contacts, movements, controls, and focus selectors described above with reference to method 16000 optionally have one or more of the characteristics of contacts, movements, controls, and focus selectors described herein with reference to other methods described herein (e.g., those listed the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments). For brevity, these details are not repeated here.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 10 shows a functional block diagram of an electronic device 16100 configured in accordance with the principles of the various described embodiments. The functional blocks of the device are, optionally, implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of the various described embodiments. It is understood by persons of skill in the art that the functional blocks described in FIG. 10 are, optionally, combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of the various described embodiments. Therefore, the description herein optionally supports any possible combination or separation or further definition of the functional blocks described herein.

As shown in FIG. 10, an electronic device 16100 includes a display unit 16102 configured to display a plurality of controls for controlling operations of the device, where the plurality of controls include one or more controls of a first type of control that respond to inputs by incrementally adjusting a corresponding parameter in accordance with intensity of the inputs, and one or more controls of a second type of control that respond to inputs that reach a predefined intensity threshold by performing a corresponding discrete operation, and when a focus selector is remote from the plurality of controls, the plurality of controls have a two-dimensional appearance. Electronic device 16100 further includes a touch-sensitive surface unit 16104 configured to detect user gestures, one or more sensor units 16105 configured to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface unit 16104; and a processing unit 16106 coupled to display unit 16102, touch-sensitive surface unit 16104 and the one or more sensor units 16105. In some embodiments, the processing unit includes a detecting unit 16108, an appearance unit 16110, a display enabling unit 16112, and an adjusting unit 16114.

The processing unit 16106 is configured to detect a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface unit (e.g., with detecting unit 16108) that corresponds to movement of a focus selector over a respective control having a two-dimensional appearance, and in response to detecting the gesture, in accordance with a determination that the respective control is a control of the first type, change the appearance (e.g., with appearance unit 16110) of the respective control to have a three-dimensional appearance, and in accordance with a determination that the respective control is a control of the second type, maintain the two-dimensional appearance (e.g., with appearance unit 16110) of the respective control.

In some embodiments, the respective control is a control of the first type, detecting the gesture (e.g., with detecting unit 16108) includes detecting an increase in intensity of a contact while the focus selector is over the respective control, and the processing unit is further configured to, after changing the appearance of the respective control to have a three-dimensional appearance, enable display of (e.g., with display enabling unit 16112) an animation of the respective control changing its three-dimensional appearance in accordance with the increase in intensity of the contact.

In some embodiments, the respective control is a control of the first type, the three-dimensional appearance of the respective control corresponds to a three-dimensional rocker switch with an axis of rotation that is parallel to the display unit, and detecting the gesture (e.g., with detecting unit 16108) includes detecting an increase in intensity of a contact while the focus selector is over the respective control. In some embodiments, the processing unit is further configured to, in response to detecting the gesture, adjust a parameter controlled by the respective control (e.g., with adjusting unit 16114); and enable display of (e.g., with display enabling unit 16112) an animation of the respective control rotating around the axis of rotation so that at least a portion of the respective control appears to rotate into or out of the display unit.

In some embodiments, the respective control adjusts a parameter, the respective control has a first region associated with increasing the parameter, and the respective control has a second region, distinct from the first region, associated with decreasing the parameter. In some embodiments, the processing unit 16106 is further configured to, in response to detecting an input corresponding to activation of the first region of the respective control, enable display of (e.g., with display enabling unit 16112) an animation so that the first region appears to rotate into the display and the second region appears to rotate out of the display, and in response to detecting an input corresponding to activation of the second region of the respective control, enable display of (e.g., with display enabling unit 16112) an animation so that the second region appears to rotate into the display and the first region appears to rotate out of the display.

In some embodiments, the respective control adjusts a parameter, the respective control has a plurality of activation states, the parameter has a plurality of values, including one or more activation-state values that are associated with corresponding activation states of the respective control and one or more intermediate values that correspond to values of the parameter in between the activation-state values, and the gesture includes a contact that corresponds to the focus selector. In some embodiments, the processing unit 16106 is further configured to, while the focus selector is over the respective control, detect (e.g., with detecting unit 16108) an increase in intensity of the contact, and in response to detecting the increase in intensity of the contact, change a current value of the parameter (e.g., with adjusting unit 16114) from a first activation-state value to a second activation-state value, where changing the current value of the parameter includes transitioning the current value of the parameter through one or more intermediate values between the first activation-state value and the second activation-state value.

The operations in the information processing methods described above are, optionally implemented by running one or more functional modules in information processing apparatus such as general purpose processors (e.g., as described above with respect to FIGS. 1A and 3) or application specific chips.

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 9A-9E are, optionally, implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B or FIG. 10. For example, detection operation 16008, maintaining operation 16012, and changing operation 16014 are, optionally, implemented by event sorter 170, event recognizer 180, and event handler 190. Event monitor 171 in event sorter 170 detects a contact on touch-sensitive display 112, and event dispatcher module 174 delivers the event information to application 136-1. A respective event recognizer 180 of application 136-1 compares the event information to respective event definitions 186, and determines whether a first contact at a first location on the touch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefined event or sub-event, such as selection of an object on a user interface. When a respective predefined event or sub-event is detected, event recognizer 180 activates an event handler 190 associated with the detection of the event or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionally utilizes or calls data updater 176 or object updater 177 to update the application internal state 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190 accesses a respective GUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by the application. Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinary skill in the art how other processes can be implemented based on the components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

Adjusting a Bidirectional User Interface Element on an Electronic Device

Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces that include bidirectional user interface elements. For example, a photo album will often contain more photos than can be displayed at one time. In this example, the photo album will have a scroll bar, slider control, or another type of bidirectional user interface element, adjustable by the user, to shift or scroll through the photos. There is often a need to provide a fast, efficient, and convenient way for users to adjust the bidirectional user interface element (e.g., scrolling the photo album so as to view additional photos in the photo album). These methods reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface.

FIGS. 11A-11N illustrate exemplary user interfaces for adjusting bidirectional user interface elements in accordance with some embodiments. The user interfaces in these figures are used to illustrate the processes described below, including the processes described below with reference to FIGS. 12A-12C. FIGS. 11A-11N include intensity diagrams that show the current intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface relative to a plurality of intensity thresholds including a light press intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(L)”) and a deep press intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”).

In some embodiments, the device is an electronic device with a separate display (e.g., display 450) and a separate touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touch-sensitive surface 451). In some embodiments, the device is portable multifunction device 100, the display is touch-sensitive display system 112, and the touch-sensitive surface includes tactile output generators 167 on the display (FIG. 1A). For convenience of explanation, the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 11A-11I and FIGS. 12A-12D will be discussed with reference to display 450 and a separate touch-sensitive surface 451, however analogous operations are, optionally, performed on a device with a touch-sensitive display system 112 in response to detecting the contacts described in FIGS. 11A-11I on the touch-sensitive display system 112 while displaying the user interfaces shown in FIGS. 11A-11I on the touch-sensitive display system 112; in such embodiments, the focus selector is, optionally: a respective contact, a representative point corresponding to a contact (e.g., a centroid of a respective contact or a point associated with a respective contact), or a centroid of two or more contacts detected on the touch-sensitive display system 112, in place of cursor 16204.

FIG. 11A illustrates an example of a user interface that includes a bidirectional user interface element. User interface 16200 is displayed on display 450 of a device (e.g., device 300) and is responsive to contacts (e.g., a finger contact) on touch-sensitive surface 451. User interface 16200 includes bidirectional user interface element 16202, which in some embodiments includes visual position indicator 16212, and images 16210 within viewer 16211. In some embodiments, viewer 16211 is another bidirectional user interface element. FIG. 11A further illustrates a displayed representation of a focus selector (e.g., cursor 16204).

FIGS. 11B-11C illustrate an example of adjusting a bidirectional user interface element in accordance with an input on a touch-sensitive surface. In FIGS. 11B-11C, the intensity of contact 16205 is greater than the intensity of contact 16206 and, therefore, bidirectional user interface element 16202 is adjusted by moving visual position indicator 16212 from position 16212-a in FIG. 11B to position 16212-b in FIG. 11C in accordance with intensity difference 16209. In this example, images 16210 are concurrently moved from left to right within viewer 16211. In some other embodiments, the images move from right to left in response to the contact on the right having a greater intensity than the contact on the left.

FIG. 11D illustrates a further example of adjusting a bidirectional user interface element in accordance with an input on a touch-sensitive surface. In FIG. 11D, the intensity of contact 16214 is less than the intensity of contact 16216 and, therefore, bidirectional user interface element 16202 is adjusted by moving visual position indicator 16212 from position 16212-b in FIG. 11C to position 16212-c in FIG. 11D in accordance with intensity difference 16213. Furthermore, in this example, images 16210 are concurrently moved from right to left within viewer 16211.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIGS. 11E-11H illustrate an example of adjusting a bidirectional user interface element in accordance with inputs on a touch-sensitive surface and a predefined threshold. In this example, user interface 16200 includes thumbnails 16218 within viewer 16217, which is, in this example, a bidirectional user interface element. In this example, the bidirectional user interface element does not have a visual indicator and is determined to have focus when the focus selector (e.g., cursor 16204) is within viewer 16217. In FIG. 11F, although the intensity of contact 16219 is greater than the intensity of contact 16220, intensity difference 16231 is below predefined threshold 16230 (e.g., a predefined intensity difference threshold) and therefore bidirectional user interface 16217 is not adjusted. Similarly in FIG. 11G, although the intensity of contact 16220 is greater than the intensity of contact 16219, intensity difference 16233 is below predefined threshold 16230 and the bidirectional user interface (e.g., viewer 16217) is not adjusted. In FIG. 11H, the intensity of contact 16220 is greater than the intensity of contact 16219 and intensity difference 16235 is above predefined threshold 16230, and therefore the bidirectional user element (e.g., viewer 16217) is adjusted by moving thumbnails 16218 from top to bottom within viewer 16217. In some other embodiments, the thumbnails move from bottom to top in response to the contact on the bottom having a greater intensity than the contact on the top.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIGS. 11I-11J illustrate an example of adjusting a bidirectional user interface element in accordance with a second input on a touch-sensitive surface. In FIGS. 11I-11J, cursor 16204 is over portion 16221-1 of bidirectional user interface element 16202 that corresponds to a scroll arrow. In FIG. 11I, contact 16222 is detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 and, in response to detecting an increase in intensity of contact 16222 above IT_(L) as shown in FIG. 11J, images 16210 are scrolled from left to right within viewer 16211 and visual position indicator is moved from position 16212-d in FIG. 11I to position 16212-e in FIG. 11J. Conceptually, in this example, the position of the visual position indicator 16212 corresponds to the position of a sliding window over the images 16210 in viewer 16211, and detection of the increase in intensity of contact 16222 while cursor 16204 is over portion 16221-1 of bidirectional user interface element 16202 causes the sliding window to move to the left over the images 16210 in viewer 16211 or, conversely, causes the images 16210 to move to the right under viewer 16211. Similarly, if the device were to detect an increase in intensity of contact 16222, while cursor 16204 is over portion 16221-2 of bidirectional user interface element 16202 that corresponds to a different scroll arrow, the device would scroll the images in the opposite direction (e.g., scrolling the images 16210 to the left with respect to viewing window 16211).

In accordance with some embodiments, FIGS. 11K-11L illustrate another example of adjusting a bidirectional user interface element in accordance with a second input on a touch-sensitive surface. In FIGS. 11K-11L, cursor 16204 is over portion 16221-3 of bidirectional user interface element 16202. In FIG. 11K, contact 16224 is detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 and, in response to detecting an increase in intensity of contact 16224 above IT_(L) as shown in FIG. 11L, images 16210 are scrolled from left to right within viewer 16211 and visual position indicator is moved from position 16212-f in FIG. 11K to position 16212-g in FIG. 11L. Conceptually, in this example, the position of the visual position indicator 16212 corresponds to the position of a sliding window over the images 16210 in viewer 16211, and detection of the increase in intensity of contact 16224 while cursor 16204 is over portion 16221-3 of bidirectional user interface element 16202 causes the sliding window to move to the left over the images 16210 in viewer 16211 or, conversely, causes the images 16210 to move to the right under viewer 16211. Similarly, if the device were to detect an increase in intensity of contact 16224, while cursor 16204 is over a portion of bidirectional user interface element 16202 that is to the right of visual position indicator 16212, the device would scroll the images in the opposite direction (e.g., scrolling the images 16210 to the left with respect to viewing window 16211).

In accordance with some embodiments, FIGS. 11M-11N illustrate another example of adjusting a bidirectional user interface element in accordance with a second input on a touch-sensitive surface. In FIG. 11N, contact 16226 and movement 16228 of contact 16226 from position 16226-a in FIG. 11M to position 16226-b in FIG. 11N is detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 while cursor 16204 is over viewer 16211 and, in response, images 16210 are scrolled from right to left within viewer 16211 and visual position indicator is moved from position 16212-h in FIG. 11M to position 16212-i in FIG. 11N. Conceptually, in this example, the position 16212 of the visual position indicator corresponds to the position of a sliding window over the images 16210 in viewer 16211, and detection of contact 16226 moving from left to right causes the sliding window to move from left to right over the images 16210 in viewer 16211 or, conversely, causes the images 16210 to move to the right under viewer 16211. Similarly, if the device were to detect a right to left movement of contact 16226, while cursor 16204 is over viewer 16211, the device would scroll the images in the opposite direction (e.g., scrolling the images 16210 to the left with respect to viewing window 16211).

FIGS. 12A-12C are flow diagrams illustrating a method 16300 of adjusting a bidirectional user interface element in accordance with some embodiments. Method 16300 is performed at an electronic device (e.g., device 300, FIG. 3, or portable multifunction device 100, FIG. 1A) with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the display is a touch screen display and the touch-sensitive surface is on the display. In some embodiments, the display is separate from the touch-sensitive surface. Some operations in method 16300 are, optionally, combined and/or the order of some operations is, optionally, changed.

As described below, the method 16300 provides an intuitive way to adjust a bidirectional user interface element. The method reduces the cognitive burden on a user when adjusting a bidirectional user interface element, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated electronic devices, enabling a user to adjust a bidirectional user interface element faster and more efficiently conserves power and increases the time between battery charges.

The device displays (16302) a bidirectional user interface element. The bidirectional user interface element is configured to be adjusted (16304) in a first direction or a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. FIG. 11A, for example, shows bidirectional user interface element 16202, configured to be adjusted left (a first direction) or right (a second direction opposite the first direction) on display 450.

While the bidirectional user interface element has focus (16306), the device detects (16308) a first input on the touch-sensitive surface that includes a first contact (e.g., a finger contact) and a second contact (e.g., a finger contact). For example, FIG. 11B shows contact 16205 and contact 16206 detected on touch-sensitive surface 451. The device determines (16310) a difference between an intensity of the first contact and an intensity of the second contact. For example, FIG. 11B shows intensity difference 16209 between the intensity of contact 16205 and the intensity of contact 16206.

In response to detecting the first input (16312), in accordance with a determination that the first input meets first adjustment criteria, including that the intensity of the first contact is greater than the intensity of the second contact, the device adjusts (16314) the bidirectional user interface element in the first direction. For example, FIG. 11C the device detects contact 16205 and contact 16206 on the touch-sensitive surface 451, where there is an intensity difference 16209 between the intensity of contact 16205 and contact 16206 such that the intensity of contact 16205 is greater than the intensity of contact 16206. In this example, in response to detecting the intensity difference between contact 16205 and contact 16206, bidirectional user interface element 16202 is adjusted to the left as visual position indicator 16212 moves from position 16212-a in FIG. 11B to position 16212-b in FIG. 11C and images 16210 are moved from left to right within viewer 16211.

In response to detecting the first input (16312), in accordance with a determination that the first input meets second adjustment criteria, including that the intensity of the first contact is less than the intensity of the second contact, the device adjusts (16316) the bidirectional user interface element in the second direction. For example, FIG. 11D the device detects contact 16214 and contact 16216 on the touch-sensitive surface 451, where there is an intensity difference 16213 between the intensity of contact 16205 and contact 16206 such that the intensity of contact 16205 is less than the intensity of contact 16206. In this example, in response to detecting the intensity difference between contact 16214 and contact 16216, bidirectional user interface element 16202 is adjusted to the right as visual position indicator 16212 moves from position 16212-b in FIG. 11C to position 16212-c in FIG. 11D and images 16210 are moved from right to left within viewer 16211.

In some embodiments, when the intensity of the first contact is greater than the intensity of the second contact, the device adjusts (16318) the bidirectional user interface, which includes adjusting the bidirectional user interface at a rate determined based at least in part on a magnitude of the intensity of the first contact. For example, after determining which of the contacts has a higher intensity, the device uses the absolute intensity of the contact with higher intensity to determine the rate of adjustment of the bidirectional user interface, optionally without regard to the intensity of the contact with lower intensity. As an example of some of these embodiments, in FIG. 11B, bidirectional user interface element 16202 is adjusted at a rate determined at least in part on the magnitude of intensity of contact 16205 in FIG. 11B.

In some embodiments, adjusting the bidirectional user interface includes adjusting (16320) the bidirectional user interface at a rate determined based at least in part on a difference between the intensity of the first contact and the intensity of the second contact. In some embodiments, the rate of adjustment is determined by the device based on an absolute difference in intensities of the first contact and the second contact. Thus, in some embodiments, if the intensity of both of the contacts increases simultaneously by the same (or substantially the same) amount, the rate of change of adjustment of the bidirectional user interface is not affected. In some embodiments, the rate of adjustment is determined by the device based on a relative difference in intensities of the first contact and the second contact, such as the difference in intensities of the first contact and the second contact divided by the average intensity of the first contact and the second contact. Thus, in some embodiments, if the intensity of both of the contacts increases simultaneously while maintaining the same relative difference in intensities, the rate of change of adjustment of the bidirectional user interface is not affected. In these embodiments, in FIG. 11B, for example, bidirectional user interface element 16202 is adjusted at a rate determined at least in part on intensity difference 16209 between the intensity of contact 16205 and the intensity of contact 16206.

In some embodiments, the device displays (16322) a visual indication of a current state of the bidirectional user interface, where the visual indication changes in accordance with adjustments to the bidirectional user interface. For example, the device displays a thumb/handle in a slider control or scroll bar, or a row of content such as photos that moves or scrolls as the bidirectional user interface is adjusted. FIG. 11A, for example, shows visual position indicator 16212 and FIGS. 11B-11C show visual position indicator 16212 moving from position 16212-a in FIG. 11B to position 16212-b in FIG. 11C in accordance with adjustments to bidirectional user interface element 16202.

In some embodiments, the bidirectional user interface is adjusted (16324) in a direction selected based at least in part on a location of the first contact and a location of the second contact on the touch sensitive surface. For example, when the first contact has a greater intensity than the second contact and the first contact is closer to a first side of the touch-sensitive surface than the second contact, where the first side of the touch-sensitive surface is associated with the first direction, the bidirectional user interface is adjusted in the first direction; in contrast, when the first contact has a greater intensity than the second contact and the first contact is closer to a second side of the touch-sensitive surface than the second contact, where the second side of the touch-sensitive surface is associated with the second direction, the bidirectional user interface is adjusted in the second direction. Therefore, in this example, when a first contact is detected on a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touch pad or touchscreen) to the right of a second contact, and the device detects that the first contact has a greater intensity than the second contact, the bidirectional user interface (e.g., a thumb/handle of a slider control or scroll bar) is moved to the right or a row of thumbnails is scrolled from the right to the left so as to display additional thumbnails that were hidden on the right side, whereas, in this example, the bidirectional user interface would be adjusted in the opposite direction if the first contact were to the left of the second contact. FIGS. 11B-11C, for example, show contact 16205 to the left of contact 16206 and in response to contact 16205 having an intensity greater than the intensity of contact 16206, bidirectional user interface element is adjusted to the left and visual position indicator 16212 moves from position 16212-a in FIG. 11B to position 16212-b in FIG. 11C. In contrast, in FIGS. 11C-11D, for example, show contact 16205 to the left of contact 16206 and in response to contact 16205 having an intensity lower than the intensity of contact 16206, bidirectional user interface element is adjusted to the right and visual position indicator 16212 moves from position 16212-b in FIG. 11C to position 16212-c in FIG. 11D.

In some embodiments, in accordance with a determination that the difference between the intensity of the first contact and the intensity of the second contact is below a predefined threshold, the device forgoes adjusting (16326) the bidirectional user interface. For example, if the difference between the intensity of the two contacts is not above a nominal level, the device ignores the input, so that the user does not unintentionally adjust the bidirectional user interface. In some embodiments, the first adjustment criteria and the second adjustment criteria both include one or more anti jitter criteria including a criterion that the difference between the intensity of the first contact and the intensity of the second contact is greater than the predefined threshold. Alternative anti jitter criteria are optionally based on absolute intensity measurement, for example, the first and second adjustment criteria optionally include (in addition to, or instead of, the relative intensity criteria described above) criteria specifying that the device forgoes adjusting the bidirectional criteria unless either the intensity of the first contact or the intensity of the second contact is above a minimum intensity threshold. FIGS. 11F-11G illustrate examples of the difference between the intensity of the first contact and the intensity of the second contact being below a predefined threshold. In FIG. 11F, the intensity of contact 16219 is greater than the intensity of contact 16220, but intensity difference 16231 is below predefined threshold 16230 and bidirectional user interface element 16217 is not adjusted. Similarly, in FIG. 11G, bidirectional user interface element 16217 is not adjusted even though the intensity of contact 16220 is greater than the intensity of contact 16219 because intensity difference 16233 is below predefined threshold 16230. In contrast, in FIG. 11H, when the intensity difference 16235 between the intensity of contact 16219 and the intensity of contact 16220 is greater than the predefined threshold 16230, the device adjusts bidirectional user interface element 16217.

In some embodiments, the device detects (16328), on the touch-sensitive surface, a second input associated with the bidirectional user interface, where the second input includes a single contact detected while the focus selector is over a respective portion of the bidirectional user interface. In response to detecting the second input, the device performs (16330) an operation associated with the respective portion of the bidirectional user interface. For example, in response to detecting a tap gesture on a slider control or scroll bar, the device moves the thumb/handle of a scroll bar to a location corresponding to a location of the focus selector on the slider control or scroll bar. FIGS. 11I-11J illustrate, for example, cursor 16204 over portion 16221-1 (e.g., a scroll arrow) of bidirectional user interface element 16202. In FIG. 11I, contact 16222 is detected and in response to detecting an increase in intensity of contact 16222 over IT_(L) in FIG. 11J, the device adjusts bidirectional user interface element 16202, moves visual position indicator 16212 from position 16212-d in FIG. 11I to position 16212-e in FIG. 11J, and moves images 16210 are from left to right in viewer 16211. As another example, FIGS. 11K-11L illustrate cursor 16204 over portion 16221-3 of bidirectional user interface element 16202. In FIG. 11K, contact 16224 is detected and in response to detecting an increase in intensity of contact 16224 over IT_(L) in FIG. 11L, the device adjusts bidirectional user interface element 16202, moves visual position indicator 16212 from position 16212-f in FIG. 11K to position 16212-g in FIG. 11L, and moves images 16210 from left to right in viewer 16211.

In some embodiments, the device detects (16332), on the touch-sensitive surface, a second input associated with the bidirectional user interface, where the second input includes movement of a contact across the touch-sensitive surface in a respective direction (e.g., a swipe movement or gesture). In response to detecting the second input, the device adjusts (16334) the bidirectional user interface in accordance with the respective direction of the movement of the contact. For example, in response to detecting a swipe gesture on a list or a row of thumbnails, the device scrolls the list or row of thumbnails on the display in a direction corresponding to the direction of the swipe gesture. FIGS. 11M-11N illustrate, for example, cursor 16204 over the bidirectional user interface element (e.g., viewer 16211). In FIG. 11N, contact 16226 and movement 16228 of contact 16226 from position 16226-a in FIG. 11M to position 16226-b in FIG. 11N is detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 and the bidirectional user interface element (e.g., viewer 16211) is adjusted in accordance with the relative direction of movement 16228 by moving images 16210 from right to left in viewer 16211.

It should be understood that the particular order in which the operations in FIGS. 12A-12C have been described is merely exemplary and is not intended to indicate that the described order is the only order in which the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize various ways to reorder the operations described herein. Additionally, it should be noted that details of other processes described herein with respect to other methods described herein (e.g., those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments) are also applicable in an analogous manner to method 16300 described above with respect to FIGS. 12A-12C. For example, the contacts, movements, user interface objects, focus selectors, and intensities described above with reference to method 16300 optionally have one or more of the characteristics of contacts, movements, user interface objects, focus selectors, and intensities described herein with reference to other methods described herein (e.g., those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments). For brevity, these details are not repeated here.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 13 shows a functional block diagram of an electronic device 16400 configured in accordance with the principles of the various described embodiments. The functional blocks of the device are, optionally, implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of the various described embodiments. It is understood by persons of skill in the art that the functional blocks described in FIG. 13 are, optionally, combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of the various described embodiments. Therefore, the description herein optionally supports any possible combination or separation or further definition of the functional blocks described herein.

As shown in FIG. 13, an electronic device 16400 includes a display unit 16402 configured to display a bidirectional user interface element, where the bidirectional user interface element is configured to be adjusted in a first direction or a second direction that is opposite to the first direction; a touch-sensitive surface unit 16404 configured to detect user inputs; and a processing unit 16406 coupled to display unit 16402 and touch-sensitive surface unit 16404. In some embodiments, the processing unit includes a detecting unit 16408, a determining unit 16410, an adjusting unit 16412, a display enabling unit 16414, and an operations unit 16416.

The processing unit 16406 is configured to, while the bidirectional user interface element has focus, detect (e.g., with detecting unit 16408) a first input on the touch-sensitive surface unit that includes a first contact and a second contact and determine (e.g., with determining unit 16410) a difference between an intensity of the first contact and an intensity of the second contact. The processing unit 16406 is further configured to, in response to detecting the first input, in accordance with a determination that the first input meets first adjustment criteria, including that the intensity of the first contact is greater than the intensity of the second contact, adjust (e.g., with adjusting unit 16412) the bidirectional user interface element in the first direction, and in accordance with a determination that the first input meets second adjustment criteria, including that the intensity of the first contact is less than the intensity of the second contact, adjust (e.g., with adjusting unit 16412) the bidirectional user interface element in the second direction.

In some embodiments, when the intensity of the first contact is greater than the intensity of the second contact, adjusting the bidirectional user interface includes adjusting (e.g., with adjusting unit 16412) the bidirectional user interface at a rate determined based at least in part on a magnitude of the intensity of the first contact.

In some embodiments, adjusting the bidirectional user interface includes adjusting (e.g., with adjusting unit 16412) the bidirectional user interface at a rate determined based at least in part on a difference between the intensity of the first contact and the intensity of the second contact.

In some embodiments, processing unit 16406 is further configured to enable display (e.g., with display enabling unit 16414) of a visual indication of a current state of the bidirectional user interface, where the visual indication changes in accordance with adjustments (e.g., with adjusting unit 16412) to the bidirectional user interface.

In some embodiments, the bidirectional user interface is adjusted (e.g., with adjusting unit 16412) in a direction selected based at least in part on a location of the first contact and a location of the second contact on touch sensitive surface unit 16404.

In some embodiments, processing unit 16406 is further configured to forgo adjusting (e.g., with adjusting unit 16412) the bidirectional user interface, in accordance with a determination (e.g., with determining unit 16410) that the difference between the intensity of the first contact and the intensity of the second contact is below a predefined threshold.

In some embodiments, processing unit 16406 is further configured to detect (e.g., with detecting unit 16408), on touch-sensitive surface unit 16404, a second input associated with the bidirectional user interface, where the second input includes a single contact detected (e.g., with detecting unit 16408) while the focus selector is over a respective portion of the bidirectional user interface, and in response to detecting the second input, perform an operation (e.g., with operations unit 16416) associated with the respective portion of the bidirectional user interface.

In some embodiments, processing unit 16406 is further configured to detect (e.g., with detecting unit 16408), on touch-sensitive surface unit 16404, a second input associated with the bidirectional user interface, where the second input includes movement of a contact across touch-sensitive surface unit 16404 in a respective direction, and in response to detecting the second input, adjust (e.g., with adjusting unit 16412) the bidirectional user interface in accordance with the respective direction of the movement of the contact.

The operations in the information processing methods described above are, optionally implemented by running one or more functional modules in information processing apparatus such as general purpose processors (e.g., as described above with respect to FIGS. 1A and 3) or application specific chips.

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 12A-12C are, optionally, implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B or FIG. 13. For example, detection operation 16308, determining operation 16310, and adjusting operations 16314 and 16316 are, optionally, implemented by event sorter 170, event recognizer 180, and event handler 190. Event monitor 171 in event sorter 170 detects a contact on touch-sensitive display 112, and event dispatcher module 174 delivers the event information to application 136-1. A respective event recognizer 180 of application 136-1 compares the event information to respective event definitions 186, and determines whether a first contact at a first location on the touch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefined event or sub-event, such as selection of an object on a user interface. When a respective predefined event or sub-event is detected, event recognizer 180 activates an event handler 190 associated with the detection of the event or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionally utilizes or calls data updater 176 or object updater 177 to update the application internal state 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190 accesses a respective GUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by the application. Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinary skill in the art how other processes can be implemented based on the components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

Managing Activation of a Control Based on Contact Intensity

Many electronic devices have graphical user interfaces with controls which, upon activation, perform various operations at the device. However, some controls control more important functions than other controls and thus it would be helpful to provide users with feedback indicating whether or not the control controls an important function (e.g., buttons in a user interface that allow users to permanently delete user accounts, modify security settings on files or folders, change account passwords, and the like). For example, an electronic device can make a button or other control harder to activate by enforcing a time and/or intensity thresholds for buttons performing important options that are different from time and/or intensity thresholds for buttons for performing less important operations. In some situations, a device optionally requires a user to actively and deliberately confirm intent to delete a user account by enabling activation of an account deletion button only after the user has pressed on a touch-sensitive surface with an intensity above a predefined intensity threshold. However, these different thresholds for buttons associated with important operations may be confusing for a user, as the thresholds are different from thresholds used for other controls in the user interface. As such, in it would be advantageous to provide visual feedback to the user so as to indicate progress toward meeting the time and/or intensity thresholds for activating controls associated with important operation. However, there is a need for an additional layer of safeguard against accidental or inadvertent activation of such controls by users in a user interface, by providing adaptive, continuous, real-time, visual feedback to the user attempting to activate such controls—based on the user's input (e.g., based on an intensity or duration of the user's contact, for instance, on a touch-sensitive surface; the contact having time-varying intensity or pressure).

The disclosed embodiments provide a method, system, and user interface for managing activation of controls in a user interface (e.g., for managing activation of a button to permanently delete a user account, or to change security settings on an important file or folder, or to reset a password in a user account), by providing visual feedback to the user based on an intensity (e.g., pressure) and/or a duration of the user's contact. Such visual feedback is provided, for example, by changing the appearance of the control based on the intensity (e.g., pressure) and/or the duration of the user-contact or by displaying a visual confirmation (e.g., based on the intensity and/or the duration of the user contact) that the control will be activated upon termination of the user-contact. As a result, the disclosed embodiments help to ensure that the user does not accidentally activate such controls while providing visual feedback so that the user is informed of the additional intensity and/or time thresholds associated with activation of such controls. Such methods provide an added layer of security and safeguard to a user in order to prevent accidental or inadvertent activation of such controls by the user while providing additional feedback to the user so that the user is aware of the different intensity and/or time thresholds that are applied to the controls.

FIGS. 14A-14M illustrate exemplary user interfaces for governing or managing activation of controls on a user interface based on the intensity (e.g., pressure) and/or duration of a contact, in accordance with some embodiments. The user interfaces in these figures are used to illustrate the processes described below, including the processes in FIGS. 15A-15D. FIGS. 14A-14K include intensity diagrams that show the current intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface relative to a first intensity threshold (“IT_(L)”) and a second threshold (“IT_(D)”), higher than the first intensity threshold. In some embodiments, operations similar to those described below with reference to ITS are performed with reference to a different intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(L)”).

FIG. 14A illustrates a user interface (e.g., a dialog box requesting a user for affirmation of user intent prior to performing a user-initiated action, such as a user-initiated request for an irreversible deletion of a file, a user account, or the like), with one or more controls (e.g., control buttons, such as control 14406 and control 14408), that is displayed on display 450.

FIGS. 14A-14C illustrate providing the user a confirmation that a respective control (e.g., control 14408, FIG. 14A) will be activated—e.g., a user account will be irreversibly deleted—in response to a gesture (e.g., upon termination of the gesture), if the gesture includes a contact that meets predefined contact intensity criteria (e.g., if the contact has an intensity above a contact intensity threshold). FIGS. 14A-14C also illustrate optionally activating the respective control (e.g., control 14408, FIG. 14A)—for example, deleting the user account—upon termination of the gesture if the gesture includes a contact that meets predefined contact intensity criteria (e.g., if the contact has an intensity above a contact intensity threshold, such as IT_(D)).

In FIG. 14A, at time T0, no contact is present or detected on touch-sensitive surface 451. A focus selector 14410 is at a location on display 450 corresponding to a respective control (e.g., control 14408, FIG. 14A). In FIG. 14B, at time T1, a contact or a gesture that includes a contact (e.g., contact 14413 in FIG. 14B) is detected on the touch-sensitive surface 451. As shown in FIG. 14B, while focus selector 14410 is at the location on display 450 corresponding to the respective control (e.g., control 14408, FIG. 14B), the contact (e.g., contact 14413 on the touch-sensitive surface 451) meets predefined contact intensity criteria. In the example shown in FIG. 14B, the predefined contact intensity criteria include a contact intensity threshold, such that if an intensity of contact 14413 exceeds the contact intensity threshold, then contact 14413 meets the predefined contact intensity criteria. In some embodiments, the predefined contact intensity criteria include a contact intensity threshold and a respective delay time period. In the example shown in FIG. 14B, in such embodiments, if an intensity of contact 14413 exceeds the contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”) for at least a delay time T_(delay)=T2−T1, then contact 14413 meets the predefined contact intensity criteria. As another example, referring to FIG. 14B, when the predefined contact intensity criteria include a contact intensity threshold and a respective delay time period, the respective delay time period is a predefined time period (e.g., T_(delay)=T3−T1) since (e.g., after) the respective contact intensity threshold is met (e.g., time period starting at time T1, FIG. 14B) in which contact 14413 must continue to be detected, even if the contact intensity is not maintained at or above the respective contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”).

Continuing along the example illustrated in FIG. 14B, since contact 14413 meets the predefined contact intensity criteria (e.g., an intensity of contact 14413 exceeds the contact intensity threshold), a confirmation is provided to the user indicating that control 14408 will be activated upon detecting the end of the gesture (e.g., upon detecting finger lift-off). In the example shown in FIG. 14B, the confirmation is optionally shown as control 14408 completely filling up with a different color compared to a color of control 14408 prior to time T1 (e.g., prior to contact 14413 meeting the predefined contact intensity criteria, as shown in FIG. 14A). Alternatively, or in addition, as shown in FIG. 14B, the confirmation is provided to the user as verbal or textual confirmation 14412 indicating that control 14408 will be activated (e.g., the user account will be deleted) upon termination of the gesture.

In FIG. 14C, at time T′ subsequent to time T1, upon detecting termination of the gesture or termination of contact 14413 (e.g., upon detecting finger lift-off), control 14408 (FIG. 14B) is activated (e.g., the user account is deleted).

If, on the other hand, the gesture does not include a contact that meets the predefined contact intensity criteria (for example, if contact 14413 does not have an intensity above the contact intensity threshold), then the control (e.g., control 14408) is not activated in response to the gesture (e.g., in response to detecting termination of the gesture). Consequently, the user is not provided with a confirmation that the control will be activated in response to the gesture (e.g., upon termination of the gesture). Instead, in some embodiments, if the gesture does not include a contact 14413 that meets the predefined contact intensity criteria, the user would continue to view the user interface shown in FIGS. 14A-14B unless the user chooses to cancel the deletion of the user account by activating control 14406. In some embodiments, the user chooses to cancel the deletion of the user account by activating control by placing focus selector 14410 over “Cancel” button 14406 and increasing the intensity of contact 14413 above a lower contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(L)”) than the contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”) at which “Delete” button 14408 is activated and then lifting the contact off of the touch-sensitive surface.

Thus, in some embodiments, the device determines if the gesture includes a contact that meets contact intensity criteria (e.g., if the intensity of the contact is above or greater than an intensity threshold) while the focus selector is at a location corresponding to a control on the display. If the contact meets the contact intensity criteria, the device provides the user with a confirmation that the contact will be activated upon detecting the end of the gesture. As a result, the user has the improved convenience of receiving real-time confirmation of user-intent (e.g., to activate the control) based on the user input (e.g., based on intensity and/or duration of user-contact). This additional confirmation provides the user a safeguard against accidental and inadvertent activation of the control by the user.

FIGS. 14D-14H illustrate detecting a user gesture, corresponding to a control (e.g., control 14408), on a touch-sensitive surface 451; the gesture including a contact (e.g., having time-varying intensity or pressure detected by the touch-sensitive surface or sensors associated with the touch-sensitive surface). FIGS. 14D-14H further illustrate providing the user a visual indication or feedback of progress toward the contact meeting predefined contact intensity criteria (e.g., providing a visual indication that the time-varying intensity of the contact is approaching or increasing toward meeting a predefined contact intensity threshold, for instance as the user pushes down harder on the touch-sensitive surface). FIGS. 14D-14H additionally illustrate providing a confirmation to the user that the control (e.g., control 14408, FIG. 14D) will be activated—e.g., a user account will be irreversibly deleted—in response to the gesture (e.g., upon termination of the gesture) if the contact meets the predefined contact intensity criteria. FIGS. 14D-14H illustrate subsequently activating the control (e.g., control 14408)—for example, deleting the user account—upon termination of the gesture if the contact meets predefined contact intensity criteria.

In FIG. 14D, at time T0, no contact is present or detected on touch-sensitive surface 451. A focus selector 14410 is at a location on display 450 corresponding to a respective control (e.g., control 14408, FIG. 14D). In FIG. 14E, at time T′, a contact or a gesture that includes a contact (e.g., contact 14414 in FIG. 14E) is detected on touch-sensitive surface 451. As shown in FIG. 14E, at time T′, while focus selector 14410 is still at the location on display 450 corresponding to the respective control (e.g., control 14408, FIG. 14E), contact 14414 has an intensity I′, lower than the contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”) and, optionally above a different button activation intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(L)”). In response to detecting a user contact of intensity I′ (lower than the contact intensity threshold), the user is provided a visual indication of progress toward contact 14414 meeting the predefined contact intensity criteria. For example, as shown in FIG. 14E, control 14408 changes appearance (compared to its appearance in FIG. 14D), for instance as a progress bar is displayed in control 14408. As another example, control 14408 changes appearance by displaying an indication of a difference (e.g., corresponding to a portion of control 14408 that is not filled in with gray) between a current intensity of contact 14414 (e.g., corresponding to the grayed or filled out portion of control 14408) on touch-sensitive surface 451 and the contact intensity threshold.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 14F, at time T″, while focus selector 14410 is still at the location on display 450 corresponding to the respective control (e.g., control 14408, FIG. 14F), contact 14414 has an intensity I″, lower than the contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”). In response to detecting an intensity I″ of contact 14414 (lower than the contact intensity threshold, but greater than the intensity I′ of contact 14414 at time T′ shown in FIG. 14E), the user is provided a visual indication of progress toward contact 14414 meeting or approaching the predefined contact intensity criteria. As shown in FIG. 14F, control 14408 further changes appearance (compared to its appearance in FIG. 14D and subsequently in FIG. 14E), for example as the progress bar displayed in control 14408 increases in size (relative to FIG. 14E) in response to the increased intensity of contact 14414 (again, relative to FIG. 14E) toward the contact intensity threshold. As another example, control 14408 further changes appearance by displaying an indication of the difference (e.g., corresponding to a portion of control 14408 that is not filled in with gray) between the current intensity (I″) of contact 14414 (e.g., corresponding to the grayed or filled out portion of control 14408) on touch-sensitive surface 451 and the contact intensity threshold. In some embodiments intensity I″ is above a different button activation intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(L)”) for activating “Cancel” button 14406 (e.g., if the focus selector were over “Cancel” button 14406 in FIG. 14F, “Cancel” button would have been activated).

As shown in FIG. 14G, at time T1, while focus selector 14410 is still at the location on display 450 corresponding to the respective control (e.g., control 14408, FIG. 14G), contact 14414 on the touch-sensitive surface 451 meets predefined contact intensity criteria. In the example shown in FIG. 14G, the predefined contact intensity criteria include a contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”). As a result, if and when the intensity of contact 14414 reaches or exceeds the contact intensity threshold, contact 14414 meets the predefined contact intensity criteria. Since contact 14414 meets the predefined contact intensity criteria at time T1, a confirmation is optionally provided to the user to indicate that control 14408 will be activated (e.g., the user account will be permanently deleted) upon detecting the end of the gesture (e.g., upon detecting lift-off of contact 14413). In the example shown in FIG. 14G, the confirmation is optionally shown as control 14408 completely filling up with a different color compared to a color of control 14408 prior to time T1 (e.g., prior to contact 14414 meeting the predefined contact intensity criteria), as shown in FIGS. 14D-14F. Alternatively, or in addition, as shown in FIG. 14G, the confirmation is provided to the user as verbal or textual confirmation 14412 indicating that control 14408 will be activated (e.g., the user account will be deleted) upon termination of the gesture.

As noted previously with reference to FIGS. 14A-14C, in some embodiments, the predefined contact intensity criteria include a contact intensity threshold (e.g., “ITS”) and a respective delay time period. In the example shown in FIG. 14G, in such embodiments, contact 14414 meets the predefined contact intensity criteria if the intensity of contact 14414 exceeds the contact intensity threshold for at least a delay time T_(delay)=T2−T1. In such embodiments, the progress bar displayed in control 14408 increases in size (e.g., starts to fill up) after the intensity of contact 14414 exceeds the contact intensity threshold, throughout the duration of the delay time. Conversely, in such embodiments, contact 14414 does not meet the predefined contact intensity criteria if the intensity of contact 14414 does not exceed the contact intensity threshold for at least a delay time T_(delay)=T2−T1. As another example, referring to FIG. 14G, contact 14414 meets the predefined contact intensity criteria if contact 14414 continues to be detected for a predefined time period (e.g., T_(delay)=T3−T1) since (e.g., after) the intensity of contact 14414 exceeds the contact intensity threshold (e.g., time period starting at time T1, FIG. 14G), even if the contact intensity is not maintained at or above the respective contact intensity threshold for the entire predefined time period.

In FIG. 14H, at time T′″ subsequent to time T1, upon detecting termination of the gesture or termination of contact 14414 (e.g., upon detecting lift-off of contact 14413), control 14408 (FIGS. 14D-14G) is activated (e.g., the user account is deleted) since the contact is determined to meet the predefined contact intensity criteria (e.g., in FIG. 14G).

On the other hand, as noted with reference to FIGS. 14A-14C, in some embodiments, if the gesture does not include a contact that meets the predefined contact intensity criteria (for example, if contact 14414 does not, at an end of the gesture, have an intensity above the contact intensity threshold), then the control (e.g., control 14408) is not activated in response to the gesture (e.g., upon termination of the gesture). Consequently, the user is not provided with a confirmation that the control will be activated in response to the gesture (e.g., upon termination of the gesture). In some embodiments, the user is provided with a confirmation that the control will not be activated (e.g., by displaying “Delete” button 14408 that is not completely filled up with gray, as illustrated in FIG. 14F). Instead, in some embodiments, if the gesture does not include a contact that meets the predefined contact intensity criteria, the user would continue to view a user interface similar to the user interface shown in FIGS. 14D-14F (e.g., with the extent of visual indication provided in control corresponding to an instantaneous intensity level of the contact 14414). In some embodiments, the user may optionally choose to cancel the deletion of the user account by activating control 14406.

Thus, in some embodiments, the device determines if the gesture includes a contact that meets predefined contact intensity criteria (e.g., if the intensity of the contact is above or greater than an intensity threshold) while the focus selector is at a location corresponding to a control on the display. If the contact meets the contact intensity criteria, the device optionally provides the user with a confirmation that the contact will be activated upon detecting the end of the gesture. If the contact does not yet meet the contact intensity criteria, the device provides the user a visual indication of progress toward meeting the contact intensity based on a current state of user input (e.g., based on the time-varying intensity and/or duration of contact). As a result, the user has the improved convenience of receiving real-time indication of progress toward activation of the control based on the user's input (e.g., based on the time-varying intensity and/or duration of the user's contact), and, in response, the option to adjust the user's input (e.g., adjusting the pressure of the contact by pushing harder or more lightly) to affirm or reverse intent to activate the control. This additional visual indication and requirement for active user-affirmation provides the user with additional information that enables the user to understand how to activate a control that is protected by these extra safeguards against accidental activation of the control by the user.

FIGS. 14I-14M illustrate detecting a user gesture corresponding to a control (e.g., control 14408) on a touch-sensitive display 112, the gesture including a contact (e.g., contact 14420, having time-varying intensity or pressure detected by the touch-sensitive display 112 or sensors associated with the touch-sensitive display 112). FIGS. 14I-14M further illustrate providing the user a visual indication or feedback indicating progress toward the contact meeting predefined contact intensity criteria (e.g., providing a visual indication that the time-varying intensity of the contact is approaching or increasing toward a predefined contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”), for instance as the user pushes down harder on the touch-sensitive surface). FIGS. 14I-14M additionally illustrate providing a confirmation to the user that a respective control (e.g., control 14408, FIG. 14I) will be activated—e.g., a user account will be irreversibly deleted—in response to the gesture (e.g., upon termination of the gesture) if the contact meets the predefined contact intensity criteria. FIGS. 14I-14M also illustrate subsequently activating the control (e.g., control 14408)—for example, deleting the user account—upon termination of the gesture if the contact meets predefined contact intensity criteria.

In FIG. 14I, at time T0, no contact is present or detected on touch-sensitive display 112. In FIG. 14J, at time T′, a contact or a gesture that includes a contact (e.g., contact 14420 in FIG. 14J) is detected on touch-sensitive display 112. A focus selector (corresponding to contact 14420) is at a location on display 112 corresponding to a respective control (e.g., control 14408, FIG. 14J). As shown in FIG. 14J, at time T′, while focus selector 14410 is still at the location on touch-sensitive display 112 corresponding to the respective control (e.g., control 14408, FIG. 14J), contact 14420 has an intensity I′, lower than the contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”). In response to detecting a user contact of intensity I′ (lower than the contact intensity threshold), the user is provided a visual indication of progress toward contact 14420 meeting predefined contact intensity criteria. For example, as shown in FIG. 14J, control 14408 changes appearance (compared to its appearance in FIG. 14I), for instance as a progress bar is displayed in control 14408. As another example, control 14408 changes appearance by displaying an indication of a difference (e.g., corresponding to a portion of control 14408 that is not filled in with gray) between a current intensity of contact 14420 (e.g., corresponding to the grayed or filled out portion of control 14408) on touch-sensitive display 112 and the contact intensity threshold.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 14K, at time T″, while focus selector 14410 is still at the location on touch-sensitive display 112 corresponding to the respective control (e.g., control 14408, FIG. 14K), contact 14420 has an intensity I″, lower than the contact intensity threshold. In response to detecting an intensity I″ of contact 14420 (lower than the contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”), but greater than the intensity I′ of contact 14420 at time T′ shown in FIG. 14J), the user is provided a visual indication of progress toward contact 14420 meeting or approaching the predefined contact intensity criteria. As shown in FIG. 14K, control 14408 further changes appearance (compared to its appearance in FIG. 14I and subsequently in FIG. 14J), for example as the progress bar displayed in control 14408 increases in size (relative to FIG. 14J) in response to the increased intensity of contact 14420 (again, relative to FIG. 14J) toward the contact intensity threshold.

As shown in FIG. 14L, at time T1, while focus selector 14410 is still at the location on touch-sensitive display 112 corresponding to the respective control (e.g., control 14408, FIG. 14L), contact 14420 on the touch-sensitive display 112 meets predefined contact intensity criteria. In the example shown in FIG. 14L, the predefined contact intensity criteria include a contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”). As a result, when the intensity of contact 14420 reaches or exceeds the contact intensity threshold, then contact 14420 meets the predefined contact intensity criteria. Since contact 14420 meets the predefined contact intensity criteria, a confirmation is optionally provided to the user to indicate that control 14408 will be activated (e.g., the user account will be permanently deleted) upon detecting the end of the gesture (e.g., upon detecting lift-off of contact 14420). In the example shown in FIG. 14L, the confirmation is optionally shown as control 14408 completely filling up with a different color compared to a color of control 14408 prior to time T1 (e.g., prior to contact 14420 meeting the predefined contact intensity criteria), as shown in FIGS. 14I-14K. Alternatively, or in addition, as shown in FIG. 14L, the confirmation is provided to the user as verbal or textual confirmation 14412 indicating that control 14408 will be activated (e.g., the user account will be deleted) upon termination of the gesture.

As noted previously with reference to FIGS. 14A-14C, and with reference to FIGS. 14D-14H, in some embodiments, the predefined contact intensity criteria include a contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”) and a respective delay time period. In the example shown in FIG. 14L, in such embodiments, contact 14420 meets the predefined contact intensity criteria if the intensity of contact 14420 exceeds the contact intensity threshold for at least a delay time T_(delay)=T2−T1. Conversely, in such embodiments, contact 14420 does not meet the predefined contact intensity criteria if the intensity of contact 14420 does not exceed the contact intensity threshold for at least a delay time T_(delay)=T2−T1. As another example, referring to FIG. 14L, contact 14420 meets the predefined contact intensity criteria if the contact continues to be detected for a predefined time period (e.g., T_(delay)=T3−T1) since (e.g., after) the intensity of contact 14420 exceeds the contact intensity threshold (e.g., time period starting at time T1, FIG. 14L), even if the contact intensity is not maintained at or above the respective contact intensity threshold for the entire predefined time period.

In FIG. 14M, at time T′″ subsequent to time T1, upon detecting termination of the gesture or termination of contact 14420 (e.g., upon detecting lift-off of contact 14420), control 14408 (FIGS. 14I-14L) is activated (e.g., the user account is deleted).

On the other hand, as noted with reference to FIGS. 14A-14C, in some embodiments, if the gesture does not include a contact that meets the predefined contact intensity criteria (for example, if contact 14420 does not, at an end of the gesture, have an intensity above the contact intensity threshold), then the control (e.g., control 14408) is not activated in response to the gesture (e.g., upon termination of the gesture). Consequently, the user is not provided with a confirmation that the control will be activated in response to the gesture (e.g., upon termination of the gesture). In some embodiments, the user is provided with a confirmation that the control will not be activated (e.g., by displaying “Delete” button 14408 that is not completely filled up with gray, as illustrated in FIG. 14K). Instead, in some embodiments, if the gesture does not include a contact that meets the predefined contact intensity criteria, the user would continue to view a user interface similar to those shown in FIGS. 14I-14K (e.g., with the extent of visual indication provided in control corresponding to an instantaneous intensity level of the contact 14420). In some embodiments, the user may optionally choose to cancel the deletion of the user account by activating control 14406.

FIGS. 15A-15D are flow diagrams illustrating a method 14500 of governing or managing activation of controls based on the intensity of a contact in accordance with some embodiments. The method 14500 is performed at an electronic device (e.g., device 300, FIG. 3, or portable multifunction device 100, FIG. 1A) with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the display is a touch screen display and the touch-sensitive surface is on the display. In some embodiments, the display is separate from the touch-sensitive surface. Some operations in method 14500 are, optionally, combined and/or the order of some operations is, optionally, changed.

As described below, the method 14500 provides an intuitive way to manage activation of controls based on the intensity of a contact. The method reduces the cognitive burden on a user when managing activation of controls based on the intensity of a contact, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated electronic devices, enabling a user to manage activation of controls based on the intensity of a contact faster and more efficiently conserves power and increases the time between battery charges.

The device displays (14502), on a display, a respective control (e.g., a button or slider) associated with respective contact intensity criteria. For example, the respective control has a corresponding predefined contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”) that needs to be met by a detected contact in order to activate the control. For example, as described with reference to FIGS. 14A-14C, control 14408 (e.g., a control to delete a user account) displayed on display 450 is associated with a contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”) that needs to be met by a contact detected on touch-sensitive surface 451 in order to activate control 14408.

While a focus selector is (14504) at a location on the display that corresponds to the respective control: the device performs one or more of operations 14506-14534.

The device detects (14506) a gesture, on a touch-sensitive surface, that corresponds to an interaction with the respective control. For example, as explained with reference to FIGS. 14A-14C, while focus selector 14410 is at a location on display 450 corresponding to control 14408, a gesture (e.g., including contact 14413, FIG. 14B) is detected on touch-sensitive surface 451.

While detecting the gesture, the device determines (14508) whether the gesture includes a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria. In some embodiments, in accordance with a determination that the gesture includes (14510) a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, the device provides (14512) a confirmation that the respective control will be activated upon detecting the end of the gesture. For example, as shown in FIG. 14B, upon determining that intensity of contact 14413 is above the contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”), the device displays an updated appearance of the progress indicator, such as displaying the control (e.g., control 14408, FIG. 14B) filling completely up with a different color (e.g., control 14408, with a white background, fills up with gray). As another example, as shown in FIG. 14B, upon determining that intensity of contact 14413 is above the contact intensity threshold, the device displays a verbal or textual confirmation 14412 indicating that control 14408 will be activated (e.g., the user account will be deleted) upon termination of the gesture.

In accordance with a determination that the gesture does not (e.g., yet) (14514) include a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, the device performs one or more of operations 14516-14562.

In accordance with a determination that the gesture does not (e.g., yet) (14514) include a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, the device changes (14516) the appearance of the respective control to indicate progress toward meeting the respective contact intensity criteria, as described with reference to operations 14518-14528. For example, as explained with reference to FIGS. 14D-14F above, upon determining that an intensity of contact 14414 (e.g., intensity I′ at time T′, and intensity I″ at time T″ corresponding to increasing contact pressure applied by the user) is lower than the contact intensity threshold, the device changes (14516) the appearance of control 14408 to indicate progress toward meeting the contact intensity threshold (e.g., as a progress bar is displayed in control 14408 or as control 14408 gradually fills up with a gray color).

In some embodiments, the respective contact intensity criteria include (14518) a respective contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”) and a respective delay time period. For example, as explained with reference to FIG. 14G, the respective delay time period is a predefined time period in which the contact intensity meets or exceeds the respective contact intensity threshold (e.g., T_(delay)=T2−T1, FIG. 14G). Alternatively, as explained with reference to FIG. 14G, the respective delay time period is a predefined time period since (after) the respective contact intensity threshold is met (e.g., since time T1) in which the contact continues to be detected, even if the contact intensity is not maintained at or above the respective contact intensity threshold (e.g., T_(delay)=T3−T1, FIG. 14G). In some embodiments, changing the appearance of the control includes displaying an indication of an amount of time remaining before the respective delay time period has elapsed. In some embodiments, in response to detecting an end of the gesture, such as liftoff of the contact, if the gesture meets the respective contact intensity criteria, including the respective delay time period, the device performs an operation associated with the control (e.g., the device deletes the user account upon detecting lift-off of contact 14414, as explained with reference to FIG. 14H). In some embodiments, as soon as the gesture meets the respective contact intensity criteria, including the respective delay time period, the device performs an operation associated with the control, without waiting to detect an end of the gesture, such as liftoff of the contact (e.g., in response to detecting that the gesture includes a contact with an intensity above the respective contact intensity threshold).

In some embodiments, the respective contact intensity criteria include (14520) a respective contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”), optionally, without a corresponding delay time period. For example, as explained with reference to FIG. 14G, when the intensity (e.g., pressure) of contact 14414 on touch-sensitive surface 451 reaches or exceeds the contact intensity threshold, then contact 14414 meets the predefined contact intensity criteria. In some embodiments, changing the appearance of the control includes displaying an indication of a difference between a current intensity of a contact on the touch-sensitive surface and the respective contact intensity threshold. For example, as explained with reference to FIGS. 14D-14F, control 14408 further changes appearance by displaying an indication of the difference (e.g., corresponding to a portion of control 14408 that is not filled in with gray) between the current intensity (I″) of contact 14414 (e.g., corresponding to the grayed or filled out portion of control 14408) on touch-sensitive surface 451 and the contact intensity threshold. In some embodiments, the device displays an indication of an additional amount of intensity (e.g., pressure) that a user needs to apply in order to activate the control. For example, if the respective contact intensity threshold is 2X, and the detected intensity of the contact is X, then the “Delete” button would be filled up fifty percent of the way. In some embodiments, in response to detecting an end of the gesture, such as liftoff of the contact, if the gesture meets the respective contact intensity criteria, the device performs an operation associated with the control (e.g., the device deletes the user account upon detecting lift-off of contact 14414, as explained with reference to FIG. 14H). In some embodiments, as soon as the gesture meets the respective contact intensity criteria, the device performs an operation associated with the control, without waiting to detect an end of the gesture, such as liftoff of the contact.

In some embodiments, changing the appearance of the control includes (14522) displaying a progress bar in the control. For example, as explained with reference to FIGS. 14D-14H, control 14408 changes appearance (e.g., in FIG. 14E as compared to its appearance in FIG. 14D), for instance as a progress bar is displayed in control 14408 when the intensity of the contact changes.

In some embodiments, changing the appearance of the control includes (14524) changing color of at least a portion of the control in accordance with the intensity of the contact. For example, as explained with reference to FIGS. 14D-14H, control 14408 changes appearance (e.g., in FIG. 14E as compared to its appearance in FIG. 14D), as at least a portion of the control 14408 changes color (from white to gray) when the intensity of the contact changes.

In some embodiments, changing the appearance of the control includes (14526) changing color of at least a portion of the control in accordance with a length of time that the contact has continuously met a respective contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”). For example, the appearance of the control changes color with the time elapsed while the contact has continuously maintained an intensity at or above a predefined contact intensity. For example, if the respective time threshold is 2X (e.g., 1 second), and the detected time that the contact has maintained the respective contact intensity threshold is X (e.g., 0.5 seconds), then the “Delete” button would be filled up fifty percent of the way.

In some embodiments, changing the appearance of the control includes (14528) changing color of at least a portion of the control in accordance with a length of time since the contact met a respective contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”). For example, the appearance of the control changes with the time elapsed since the contact met a predefined contact intensity without regard to whether or not the contact has maintained the predefined contact intensity. For example, if the respective time threshold is 2X (e.g., 1 second), and the detected time that the contact has been detected since the contact reached the respective contact intensity threshold is X (e.g., 0.5 seconds), then the “Delete” button would be filled up fifty percent of the way.

In some embodiments, the device updates (14530) the appearance of the respective control over time to provide an updated indication of progress toward meeting the respective contact intensity criteria. For example, as explained with reference to FIGS. 14D-14G, control 14408 (e.g., a button) gradually fills up with (e.g., gray) color in accordance with a gradually increasing intensity of contact 14414 on touch-sensitive surface 451 (e.g., as the user pushes harder on touch-sensitive surface 451). As another example, as explained with reference to FIGS. 14D-14G, control 14408 (e.g., a button) gradually fills with (e.g., gray) color as contact 14414 is maintained at an intensity above a respective contact intensity threshold (e.g., “IT_(D)”) for a predefined period of time (e.g., T_(delay)=T2−T1, FIG. 14G) needed to activate the button (e.g., control 14408).

In some embodiments, at a first time during the gesture, the gesture does not include (14532) a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria and the appearance of the respective control indicates that the control will not be activated in response to detecting an end of the gesture at the first time. In such embodiments, at a second time during the gesture, after the first time, the gesture includes (14534) a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria and the appearance of the respective control indicates that the control will be activated in response to detecting an end of the gesture at the second time. For example, the contact increases in intensity and/or duration during the gesture and thus at the end of the gesture, the control is activated. For example, as explained with reference to FIGS. 14D-14H, the intensity of contact 14414 increases from zero intensity (no contact, FIG. 14D) to intensity I′ (FIG. 14E) to intensity I″ (FIG. 14F)—as the user pushes harder on touch-sensitive surface 451—during which times contact 14414 does not meet contact intensity criteria. At these times, the appearance of control 14408 (e.g., control 14408 is not completely filled in gray color) indicates that control 14408 will not be activated (e.g., user account will not be deleted) in response to detecting an end of the gesture at these times. However, when the intensity of contact 14414 exceeds contact intensity threshold at time T1 (FIG. 14G), contact 14414 meets contact intensity criteria. At this time, the appearance of control 14408 (e.g., control 14408 is completely filled in with gray color) indicates that control 14408 will be activated (e.g., user account will be deleted) in response to detecting an end of the gesture at this time.

In some embodiments, after changing (14536) the appearance of the respective control: the device detects (14538) an end of the gesture. For example, as explained with reference to FIGS. 14D-14E, after changing the appearance of the respective control 14408, the device detects liftoff of contact 14414 (FIG. 14E). In response to detecting the end of the gesture, the device determines (14540) whether the gesture includes a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria. In accordance with a determination that the gesture includes (14542) a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, the device activates (14544) the control. For example, the device performs an operation associated with activation of the control (e.g., the device deletes the user account, as shown in FIG. 14H). In accordance with a determination that the gesture does not include (14546) a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, the device forgoes (14548) activation of the control. For example, as explained with reference to FIGS. 14D-14H, upon determining that the gesture does not include a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria the device does not delete the user account, but rather returns the user to the user interface shown in FIG. 14D.

In some embodiments, after changing (14550) the appearance of the respective control: the device detects (14552) a respective contact with an intensity above a respective contact intensity threshold (e.g., “ITS”) for a detected time. In some embodiments, the respective contact is a contact of the gesture, such as a contact corresponds to a press input on the touch-sensitive surface while the focus selector is at the location on the display that corresponds to the respective control. In response to detecting the respective contact with the intensity above the respective contact intensity threshold for the detected time, the device determines (14554) whether the gesture includes a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria. In accordance with a determination that the gesture includes (14556) a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, the device activates (14558) the control. For example, the device performs an operation associated with activation of the control without waiting to detect an end of the gesture (e.g., prior to lift off of the finger contact). In accordance with a determination that the gesture does not (14560) include a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, the device forgoes (14562) activation of the control.

It should be understood that the particular order in which the operations in FIGS. 15A-15D have been described is merely exemplary and is not intended to indicate that the described order is the only order in which the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize various ways to reorder the operations described herein. Additionally, it should be noted that details of other processes described herein with respect to other methods described herein (e.g., those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments) are also applicable in an analogous manner to method 14500 described above with respect to FIGS. 15A-15D. For example, the contacts, gestures, controls, user interface objects, intensity thresholds, focus selectors described above with reference to method 14500 optionally have one or more of the characteristics of the contacts, gestures, controls, user interface objects, intensity thresholds, focus selectors described herein with reference to other methods described herein (e.g., those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments). For brevity, these details are not repeated here.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 16 shows a functional block diagram of an electronic device 14600 configured in accordance with the principles of the various described embodiments. The functional blocks of the device are, optionally, implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of the various described embodiments. It is understood by persons of skill in the art that the functional blocks described in FIG. 16 are, optionally, combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of the various described embodiments. Therefore, the description herein optionally supports any possible combination or separation or further definition of the functional blocks described herein.

As shown in FIG. 16, an electronic device 14600 includes a display unit 14602 configured to display on the display unit 14602, a respective control associated with respective contact intensity criteria; a touch-sensitive surface unit 14604 configured to receive a contact on the touch-sensitive surface unit; one or more sensor units 14605 configured to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface unit 14604; and a processing unit 14606 coupled to the display unit 14602. In some embodiments, the processing unit 14606 includes a display enabling unit 14608, a detecting unit 14610, a changing unit 14612, an activating unit 14614, a providing unit 14618, and an updating unit 14620.

The processing unit 14606 is configured to: display, on the display unit 14602, a respective control associated with respective contact intensity criteria; and while a focus selector is at a location on the display unit 14602 that corresponds to the respective control: detect a gesture, on the touch-sensitive surface unit 14604, that corresponds to an interaction with the respective control (e.g., with the detecting unit 14610); and while detecting the gesture, in accordance with a determination that the gesture does not include a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, change the appearance of the respective control to indicate progress toward meeting the respective contact intensity criteria (e.g., with the changing unit 14612).

In some embodiments, the processing unit 14606 is further configured to, after changing the appearance of the respective control: detect an end of the gesture (e.g., with the detecting unit 14610); and in response to detecting the end of the gesture: in accordance with a determination that the gesture includes a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, activate the control (e.g., with the activating unit 14614); and in accordance with a determination that the gesture does not include a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, forgo activation of the control (e.g., with the activating unit 14614).

In some embodiments, the processing unit 14606 is further configured to, while detecting the gesture, in accordance with a determination that the gesture includes a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, provide a confirmation that the respective control will be activated upon detecting the end of the gesture (e.g., with the providing unit 14618).

In some embodiments, the processing unit 14606 is further configured to, after changing the appearance of the respective control: detect a respective contact with an intensity above a respective contact intensity threshold for a detected time (e.g., with the detecting unit 14610); and in response to detecting the respective contact with the intensity above the respective contact intensity threshold for the detected time: in accordance with a determination that the gesture includes a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, activate the control (e.g., with the activating unit 14614); and in accordance with a determination that the gesture does not include a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria, forgo activation of the control (e.g., with the activating unit 14614).

In some embodiments, at a first time during the gesture, the gesture does not include a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria and the appearance of the respective control indicates that the control will not be activated in response to detecting an end of the gesture at the first time; and at a second time during the gesture, after the first time, the gesture includes a contact that meets the respective contact intensity criteria and the appearance of the respective control indicates that the control will be activated in response to detecting an end of the gesture at the second time.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 14606 is further configured to update the appearance of the respective control over time to provide an updated indication of progress toward meeting the respective contact intensity criteria (e.g., with the updating unit 14620).

In some embodiments, the respective contact intensity criteria include a respective contact intensity threshold and a respective delay time period; and changing the appearance of the control includes displaying an indication of an amount of time remaining before the respective delay time period has elapsed.

In some embodiments, the respective contact intensity criteria include a respective contact intensity threshold; and changing the appearance of the control includes displaying an indication of a difference between a current intensity of a contact on the touch-sensitive surface unit 14604 and the respective contact intensity threshold.

In some embodiments, changing the appearance of the control includes displaying a progress bar in the control (e.g., with the changing unit 14612).

In some embodiments, changing the appearance of the control includes changing color of at least a portion of the control in accordance with the intensity of the contact (e.g., with the changing unit 14612).

In some embodiments, changing the appearance of the control includes changing color of at least a portion of the control in accordance with a length of time that the contact has continuously met a respective contact intensity threshold (e.g., with the changing unit 14612).

In some embodiments, changing the appearance of the control includes changing color of at least a portion of the control in accordance with a length of time since the contact met a respective contact intensity threshold (e.g., with the changing unit 14612).

The operations in the information processing methods described above are, optionally implemented by running one or more functional modules in information processing apparatus such as general purpose processors (e.g., as described above with respect to FIGS. 1A and 3) or application specific chips.

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 15A-15D are, optionally, implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B or FIG. 16. For example, displaying operation 14502, detecting operation 14506, and determining operation 14508 are, optionally, implemented by event sorter 170, event recognizer 180, and event handler 190. Event monitor 171 in event sorter 170 detects a contact on touch-sensitive display 112, and event dispatcher module 174 delivers the event information to application 136-1. A respective event recognizer 180 of application 136-1 compares the event information to respective event definitions 186, and determines whether a first contact at a first location on the touch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefined event or sub-event, such as selection of an object on a user interface. When a respective predefined event or sub-event is detected, event recognizer 180 activates an event handler 190 associated with the detection of the event or sub-event. Event handler 190 optionally utilizes or calls data updater 176 or object updater 177 to update the application internal state 192. In some embodiments, event handler 190 accesses a respective GUI updater 178 to update what is displayed by the application. Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinary skill in the art how other processes can be implemented based on the components depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B.

It should be understood that the particular order in which the operations have been described above is merely exemplary and is not intended to indicate that the described order is the only order in which the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize various ways to reorder the operations described herein. Additionally, it should be noted that the various processes separately described herein (e.g., those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments) can be combined with each other in different arrangements. For example, the contacts, user interface objects, tactile sensations, intensity thresholds, and/or focus selectors described above with reference to any one of the various processes separately described herein (e.g., those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments) optionally have one or more of the characteristics of the contacts, gestures, user interface objects, tactile sensations, intensity thresholds, and focus selectors described herein with reference to one or more of the other methods described herein (e.g., those listed in the fifth paragraph of the Description of Embodiments). For brevity, all of the various possible combinations are not specifically enumerated here, but it should be understood that the claims described above may be combined in any way that is not precluded by mutually exclusive claim features.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the various described embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the various described embodiments and their practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various described embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

1. (canceled)
 2. A method, comprising: at a computer system that is in communication with a display device and an input device: displaying, via the display device, a user interface that includes a plurality of user interface elements displayed on a plane including a first control that is displayed with a first appearance, the first appearance including a respective element of the first control being displayed in the plane; while displaying the user interface that includes the first control with the first appearance, detecting, via the input device, a first input indicating that focus has been directed to the first control; in response to detecting the first input, displaying the first control with a second appearance, the second appearance including the respective element of the first control being displayed out of the plane; while displaying the user interface that includes the first control with the second appearance, detecting, via the input device, a second input that corresponds to an interaction with the first control; and in response to detecting the second input, changing an appearance of the first control by moving the respective element of the first control toward the plane.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein changing the appearance of the first control by moving the respective element of the first control toward the plane includes moving the respective element of the first control toward the plane such that the respective element is moved from a position above the plane to a position in the plane.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein changing the appearance of the first control by moving the respective element of the first control toward the plane includes moving the respective element of the first control across the plane such that the respective element is moved from a position above the plane to a position below the plane.
 5. The method of claim 2, further comprising, in response to detecting the second input, performing an operation associated with the first control.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein performing the operation associated with the first control includes changing display of at least one of the plurality of the user interface elements other than the first control.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein changing the appearance of the first control by moving the respective element of the first control toward the plane includes moving the respective element gradually in accordance with a plurality of values of an input parameter associated with the second input.
 8. The method of claim 2, further comprising, in response to detecting the first input, appearance of at least one of the plurality of the user interface elements other than the first control remains unchanged.
 9. The method of claim 2, further comprising: while displaying the user interface that includes a second control among the plurality of the user interface elements with the first appearance, detecting, via the input device, a third input indicating that the focus has been directed to the second control; in response to detecting the third input, displaying the second control with the second appearance.
 10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer system in communication with a display device and an input device, cause the computer system to: display, via the display device, a user interface that includes a plurality of user interface elements displayed on a plane including a first control that is displayed with a first appearance, the first appearance including a respective element of the first control being displayed in the plane; while displaying the user interface that includes the first control with the first appearance, detect, via the input device, a first input indicating that focus has been directed to the first control; in response to detecting the first input, display the first control with a second appearance, the second appearance including the respective element of the first control being displayed out of the plane; while displaying the user interface that includes the first control with the second appearance, detect, via the input device, a second input that corresponds to an interaction with the first control; and in response to detecting the second input, change an appearance of the first control by moving the respective element of the first control toward the plane.
 11. A computer system, comprising: one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for: displaying, via a display device in communication with the computer system, a user interface that includes a plurality of user interface elements displayed on a plane including a first control that is displayed with a first appearance, the first appearance including a respective element of the first control being displayed in the plane; while displaying the user interface that includes the first control with the first appearance, detecting, via an input device in communication with the computer system, a first input indicating that focus has been directed to the first control; in response to detecting the first input, displaying the first control with a second appearance, the second appearance including the respective element of the first control being displayed out of the plane; while displaying the user interface that includes the first control with the second appearance, detecting, via the input device, a second input that corresponds to an interaction with the first control; and in response to detecting the second input, changing an appearance of the first control by moving the respective element of the first control toward the plane. 